Michael Alago, A&R director of Elektra records, attends a September gig in New York as does Cliff Burnstein, co-founder of Q-Prime Management. Metallica sign with Elektra records and become clients of Q-Prime.
Fall/Winter, 1984
Metallica launch their first major European tour with Tank to an average of 1,300 fans at each show.
Metallica gain the nickname Alcoholica from a European fan wearing a homemade T-shirt with the Kill 'Em All cover distorted
"The first time I saw it was some kid had done a shirt, with silk screens or paints at home. He had the Kill 'Em All album cover, except instead of "Metallica" it said "Alcohollica," and instead of "Kill 'Em All," it said "Drank 'Em All." Instead of the hammer with the blood, it was a vodka bottle dumped over. We thought it was pretty cool. We had shirts like that made up for ourselves."
Metallica return to tour the U.S., co-headlining with W.A.S.P., with Armored Saint supporting.
August 17, 1985
Metallica play Monsters of Rock Festival with Bon Jovi and Ratt at Castle Donnington in England in front of over 70,000 fans.
"If you came here to see spandex, eye makeup, and the words 'Oh baby' in every f***in' song, this ain't the f***in' band."
--James Hetfield
August 31, 1985
Metallica continue their major festival circuit, playing at Day on the Green in Oakland, Calif. to over 60,000 fans. attend.
September - December, 1985
The band records Master Of Puppets at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark (to be released on February 21, 1986). It is released on February 21, 1986. The album has a 72-week run on the album charts, and becomes the band's first gold record
" 'Master of Puppets' the song, deals for the most part with the kind of things that happen when people get dependant upon drugs. 'Disposable Heroes' is more of a military-type thing, of what could and might happen to soldiers. Personally, I would say the 'Master' of this whole thing is Fate. Seeing the drug dealers alone as the masters is to look at it very narrowly because they're just peddling their wares. I'm not really sure how James, who wrote it, looks at it. When I look at it, everyone gets ground under the wheels. Whoever is on the playing field is fair game, and it's up to them to avoid being used."
-- Cliff Burton, Metal Mania, 1986
March 27, 1986
Metallica start U.S. tour in support of Ozzy Osbourne
