Metallica formed in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and have become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold 110 million albums worldwide while playing to millions of fans. 

They have scored several multi-platinum albums, including 1991’s ‘Metallica’ (commonly referred to as 'The Black Album'), with sales of nearly 17 million copies in the United States alone. Metallica have also garnered numerous awards and accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.  

In December 2013, Metallica made history when they performed a rare concert in Antarctica, becoming the first act to ever play all seven continents all within a year, and earning themselves a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.