The Metallica Report

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

February 5, 2025 49 mins
The week of February 5, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Legendary music critic David Fricke details his decades-long journey with Metallica, writing some of rock journalism’s most unflinching and detailed stories about the band through the pages of Rolling Stone magazine. Beginning with their first full-assignment encounter on the Damaged Justice tour, David shares observations of Metallica’s unique fan connection and growth as the ...
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The week of January 29, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Percussionist Jimmy Clark, also known in the Metallica world as Lars Ulrich’s tech, joins us to share stories of his own career, how he became friends with a mischievous young Danish drummer back in the day, his industry education in Nashville, and how he worked his way from the rafters to the stage with Metallica. Jimmy also discusses his own adherence to perfectionism and how ...
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The week of January 22, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We continue our techs-behind-the-band series with Justin Crew, Kirk Hammett’s right-hand guitar-man of 29 years. Justin recounts the genesis of his own career from Go West to AC/DC, how he landed the Metallica/Hammett gig, the terror of flatbed trucks, being on the Poor Touring Me tour, and what his work on M72 requires. Justin also discusses Greeny, the guitar famous in its ow...
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The week of January 15, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We hear from guitar tech Chad Zaemisch. He shares what it’s like being interviewed for a job by prospective boss James Hetfield, then details his creative and technical approach to the role. He discusses how the gig has changed over the last 22 years, what working a show is like, and the importance of trust in his relationship with James. Finally, Chad recalls some memorable an...
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The week of January 8, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We speak with James Hetfield about his perennial and peerless lyrics. Our songwriter shares what he loves about the architecture of words, whether he sees himself as a storyteller, and his appreciation of Tom Waits. Then, we take a trip back through the So What! archives to revisit his approach to songs such as “Harvester Of Sorrow,” “Moth Into Flame,” and “ManUNkind.” Finally, ...
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The week of January 1, 2025 on The Metallica Report… As we welcome 2025, Steff and Renée had to take one last chance to appreciate the year that was with their favorite moments and guests from The Metallica Report 2024. From bird-watching to high school memories to world tour vibes, this one covers a lot of ground! So sit back and enjoy reminiscing with James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Brian Tatler, Les...
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December 25, 2024 23 mins
The week of December 25, 2024 on The Metallica Report… With the holiday season in full swing, we hear from Metallica’s confirmed cinephile, Lars Ulrich. Having seen 18 films at the Mill Valley Film Festival alone, he speaks about some of his favorite movies over the last few months. And for good measure, Steff has him throw in his current musical flavors, as well. Meanwhile, Robert Trujillo shares his modest New Year’s Resolution...
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The week of December 18, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steff and Renée bring all the details from last week’s Helping Hands Concert & Auction at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. Coverage starts during rehearsals when Lars and Robert share the band’s approach to the unique nature of this traditionally acoustic/electric show. Metallica superfan Jason Momoa takes us back to his entrée into music, his love of bass, and his admiration ...
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The week of December 11, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steff and Renée are getting ready for the fourth biennial Helping Hands Concert & Auction on Friday, December 13, by speaking with two of this year’s honorees. First, Renée catches up with actress Maggie Baird (aka the mother of Billie Eilish and Finneas) from Support + Feed. If that organization sounds familiar, it’s because Support + Feed joined us on the 2024 North America...
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December 4, 2024 19 mins
The week of December 4, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Metallica’s long-time tech, Zach Harmon, sits down to offer an overview of how the humble yet venerated guitar pick has developed over the years for this band. Zach explains the importance of shapes, colors, sizes, and styles of these tiny tools of the trade and reveals his own fervent attention to detail and creativity when it comes to such things as the now infamous “city pic...
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The week of November 27, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Here in America, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow. For many of us, Thanksgiving day is full of lots of food, of course, and spending time with family. “Family.” That word can mean so many different things depending on who you ask. So, we checked in with a few people in our orbit to hear what family means to them, kicking it off with our own Papa Het. The Metallica Repo...
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November 20, 2024 25 mins
The week of November 20, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Adam Dubin, the man behind A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, joins Steffan and Renée to revisit his time behind the Metallica curtain and share why his approach to filming struck the right chord. He also gives us a more personal look into a pivotal time in the lives of the young band members. The Metallica Report - your official, weekly guide for all things Metallic...
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The week of November 13, 2024 on The Metallica Report… This special episode of “The Metallica Report” delivers a rare conversation between Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Metallica’s own Robert Trujillo. With Steffan’s help, the pair delve into their early days, sharing their influences and how they first connected. They also discuss their work together on Jerry’s solo work, particularly his new album, I Want Blood, and why c...
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The week of November 6, 2024 on The Metallica Report… On the anniversary of 2022’s tribute show honoring the lives of Jonny and Marsha Zazula, James, Lars, Kirk, and Robert remember the pair who jumpstarted Metallica’s career with Megaforce Records. In 1983, the right man on the opposite coast got ahold of a No Life ’Til Leather cassette tape. This man and his business partner/wife became integral in the lives of the young member...
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The Week of October 30, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steffan and Renée have a lot of ground to cover. First, our hosts ask Robert Trujillo and artist Rhys Cooper about Metallica’s return to Australia. Then, in the Spooky Season spirit, James and Robert chime in on what horror is to them. Finally, Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills joins the podcast to discuss “A Work of Art,” the band’s song and extended music video for the new h...
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October 23, 2024 19 mins
The week of October 23, 2024 on The Metallica Report… In honor of World Mental Health Day, Steffan and Renée tackle the important issue of self-care with James and Kirk, as Metallica’s guitarists share their secrets for staying healthy both in mind and body.  James discusses meditation—how it has helped him, the many forms it takes, and why sometimes disengaging from the world is necessary. Kirk focuses on nutrition and his stra...
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The week of October 16, 2024 on The Metallica Report… It’s all about Metallica Remastered, the new machine from the premier pinball game designers and manufacturers at Stern Pinball. Renée moderates a roundtable discussion of the evolution of the game with Stern’s Director of Licensing and Marketing, Jody Dankberg, artist and designer of the graphics, Rhys Cooper, and our in-house Pinball Wizard, HQ’s own Jeff Yeager. The”Pinball C...
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October 9, 2024 19 mins
The week of October 9, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steffan and Renée are joined by Kirk Hammett to discuss one of the most revered guitars in rock and roll history: Greeny. One part Gibson Les Paul Standard and one part magic, Kirk gushes about his relationship with what he has dubbed “The People’s Guitar.” But even the best guitars and guitarists are incomplete without a kick-ass tech, so Kirk shares some insight into the final...
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The week of October 2, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steffan gives Renée —and all of us—the lowdown on how Metallica’s two weekends in Mexico City wrapped up, including updates on support acts, Lucha Libre, Robert’s Spanish, James’ take on Robert and Kirk’s spotlight in the set, and the way metal is deeply rooted in the region’s culture. Episode 60 guest Karla Farrugia (Mexitallica Chapter Head) turned Steffan on to local metal b...
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The week of September 25, 2024 on The Metallica Report… We hear an excerpt of James Hetfield’s conversation about his relationship with Cliff Burton, as delivered by one of the driving forces behind “Orion: A Tribute to Cliff Burton,” Dan Nykolayko. Joining Steffan, Dan also discusses this final installment of the exhibit, and what he learned about the iconic bassist. While in Mexico City, Steffan takes to the floor to catch up w...
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