The Metallica Report
Keep up with all things Metallica by going straight to the source. Now you can get your news directly from those entrenched in the band’s own Northern California headquarters. This weekly report is hosted by Steffan Chirazi and Renée Richardson, two members of the Metallica Camp. Steffan is a long-time rock scribe and editor of the band’s online mag, So What!, whose days covering Metallica began in the 1980s with the British music magazines Sounds and Kerrang! Renée is the Director of Philanthropy for the band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, and also has a storied background in music as a well-known Bay Area radio personality. Each week will sound a little different, but you’ll always remain in the loop. Steffan and Renée will keep you posted with the latest news and updates from Metallica HQ and the road as the M72 Tour makes its way around the world. They’ll bring you mini-features for a little peek behind the curtain, and you’ll learn bits of info you won’t find anywhere else through chats with everyone from members of the road crew to poster artists, from fans to band members themselves! They won’t just tell you what you need to know; they’ll also get to the bottom of what you want to find out! Listeners can submit questions, and Steffan and Renée will get to work finding answers. You’ll enjoy all of this and more with The Metallica Report, your quick, weekly fix covering our most relevant topics of the day. A proud part of Pantheon Podcasts Produced by Pantheon Media & PopCult Executive Producers: Marc Reiter, Vickie Strate, Doug Oswandel Written by: Steffan Chirazi & Renee Richardson Production Coordinator: Lane Watson
Episodes
April 24, 2024 • 34 mins
The week of April 24, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Steffan and Renée are joined by long-time Metallica tech Zach Harmon. Now a veritable Swiss Army Knife of tour and studio operations, Zach recounts the winding road to his current position that began nearly 40 years ago. He also provides insight into his unique relationships with Metallica’s pioneering bass players throughout the band’s tenure.
The Metallica Report - your offici...
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April 17, 2024 • 23 mins
The week of April 17, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
It’s Q & A day! Team Metallica asked local fan club chapter members to submit their questions for the band, then Steffan and Renée took those questions and grabbed Kirk and Robert to give us some answers. Check it out!
The Metallica Report - your official, weekly guide for all things Metallica, straight from the source. New episode every Wednesday.
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April 10, 2024 • 24 mins
The week of April 10, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Riff master Brian Tatler cranks up the Wayback Machine to share stories of Diamond Head’s biggest (and possibly only) fan in America in 1981: a 17-year-old named Lars Ulrich. Turns out, that same kid was starting a band of his own. A few traded covers and several decades later, and the rest is history!
The Metallica Report - your official, weekly guide for all things Metallica, ...
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April 3, 2024 • 15 mins
The Week of April 3, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
A seemingly unlikely pairing, the paths of Elton John and Metallica have crossed over the years more than you might think. Ahead of PBS’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song broadcast honoring Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Kirk and Rob join Steffan and Renée to share a few fun stories about Sir Elton.
Premiering on Monday, April 8 at 8 PM ET (check local listings), catch Metallica’s re...
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The week of March 27, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Steffan and Renée bring us the inside scoop on James Hetfield’s love of cigars, including the new BLACKENED “S84 Shade to Black” by Drew Estate. Then they check in with Robert Trujillo, who is in the midst of a few gigs with his Infectious Grooves crew, including shows in Australia!
The Metallica Report - your official, weekly guide for all things Metallica, straight from the so...
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March 20, 2024 • 36 mins
The week of March 20, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
It’s time for part two of our conversation with our producer, Greg Fidelman. This one is for all of you who wanna know what it’s like being at the helm of the control room at HQ! Greg shares what it was like working with Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and the only other artist who’s actually recorded at HQ, Lou Reed. And don’t miss the story of how S&M2 came to be, starting, as you can ...
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March 13, 2024 • 32 mins
The week of March 13, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
When it comes to Metallica’s creative process, Greg Fidelman has become the “unofficially official” fifth member of the band.
He began his music career in the late ’80s as the lead guitarist of his own group, but Greg really hit his stride on the other side of the studio glass about a decade later. From engineer to mixer to producer, this Grammy-winner has worked with some major ...
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The week of March 6, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
In honor of International Women’s Day later this week, Renée takes on solo-hosting duties and brings along a few other women who keep the Metallica mothership moving. Make no mistake… there are plenty to choose from! We're talking about members of management, legal, accounting, marketing, merchandising, digital, recording, touring, the record label, the foundation, and, of course,...
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February 28, 2024 • 29 mins
The week of February 28, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
If you’ve seen a photo of Metallica, chances are you’ve seen one of Ross Halfin’s shots.
Steffan and Renée chat with the man who’s been behind the camera, capturing Metallica and pretty much every other big name in rock for decades. Ross shares stories spanning his first shoot with the guys in El Cerrito in the early ’80s through today. He emphasizes the importance of trust ...
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February 21, 2024 • 31 mins
The week of February 21, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
The second installment of two episodes recorded at the band’s creative ground zero for over 20 years: Metallica HQ. Steffan and Renée tour the building with one of its longest inhabitants, Jeff Yeager - webmaster, touring photographer/videographer, and network manager.
Sprinkled with fun facts and historical context, the group makes its way through the artifact-filled worksho...
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Episode 29: All Things HQ - Part 1: Robert Trujillo, Staffers Jeff Yeager, Jack Ketcham, Kent Matcke
February 14, 2024 • 26 mins
This week of February 14, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
The first of two episodes recorded at the band’s creative ground zero for over 20 years: Metallica HQ. Steffan and Renée set up shop in the Jam Room with three people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the Metallica Machine moving.
Jeff Yeager - webmaster, touring photographer/videographer, and all-around “do whatever it takes” guy - brings us back to the first ev...
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February 7, 2024 • 20 mins
The week of February 7, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Steffan and Renée are joined by a man intertwined through Metallica history in a way maybe no one else can claim to be. A producer, a collaborator, a motivator, a fill-in, a support system, and the master of getting that sound “just right”... it’s none other than Bob Rock!
The Metallica Report - your official, weekly guide for all things Metallica, straight from the source. Ne...
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January 31, 2024 • 24 mins
The week of January 31, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Steffan and Renée revisit some of your favorite performances and infamous moments in Metallica’s award show history. No spoilers here, but we bet you can guess a few... They include surprise outcomes, a bit of NSFW language, and a lot of very heavy music!
Plus, Clint Wells - a man many of you may know as the host of Metal Up Your Podcast - joins to share his perspective on awa...
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January 24, 2024 • 24 mins
The week of January 24, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
A fortuitous call from Kirk sets the stage, framing the metal scene in the early days and the roles Ron, Brian, and KJ played.
Brian recalls the enthusiasm surrounding Metallica’s first album by the band members and, if you will, the founding Metallica Family members - many of whom would be acknowledged decades later. KJ traces Lars’ passion for supporting his peers back to th...
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January 17, 2024 • 23 mins
The week of January 17, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
Steffan and Renée are joined by old friends KJ Doughton, Brian Lew, and Ron Quintana for a trip back to the humble beginnings of Metallica. From fanzines to tape trading to shows at the legendary Stone in San Francisco, these guys have seen it all and are bonded for life to each other and the band through their undying love of music.
Ron, the man behind the name Metallica, f...
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January 10, 2024 • 21 mins
The week of January 10, 2024 on The Metallica Report…
We have a visit from an old friend as Steffan and Renée check in with bassist Jason Newsted.
Amid an unusually quiet time in his creative world, Jason talks about plans, projects, and how he’s allowing himself to enjoy the simplicity of his day-to-day life.
Of course, we still have to touch on his artistic side, from keeping his visual art skills active to his love of the ...
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January 3, 2024 • 22 mins
The week of January 3, 2024 on the The Metallica Report…
For better or worse, few people know the absolute power pyrotechnics can bring to a performance like our own James Hetfield does. He joins Steffan and Renée to get into the history of pyro within Metallica and the energy it brings to a live show.
And, of course, James touches on safety, which brings us to our second guest: M72 Pyrotechnic Project Manager Reid Derne. Reid t...
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December 27, 2023 • 17 mins
The week of December 27, 2023 on The Metallica Report…
With the new year right around the corner, Steffan and Renée check in with James and Robert to reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024.
Hear James’ perspective on the light and dark sides of 72 Seasons. Find out which songs off the new album have been their favorites to play live so far and which setlist stalwarts still excite them. Plus, what they’re hoping and planning for ...
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The week of December 20, 2023 on The Metallica Report…
We’re going to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the highlights of the first 20 episodes of The Metallica Report. Remember Lars and that iPod? (think Blue Oyster Cult!) What about Kirk catching waves or James’ love of a good music festival? And who could forget Robert’s night on stage in Dallas?
First, Steffan gives us his review of a night out in the East Bay watching two b...
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December 13, 2023 • 19 mins
The week of December 13, 2023 on The Metallica Report…
Rob Trujillo brings us behind the scenes of “Are Bass Players Human Too?”, the new docuseries from Rush’s Geddy Lee. As the focus of one of four episodes, Rob spent two full days with Geddy, showing him around his Southern California world through surfing, biking, and skating. He also gave Geddy a spin on Jaco Pastorius’ famed “Bass of Doom” while the two shared stories of hug...
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