10 Times Metallica Did Whatever The Hell They Wanted

Following the tragic and untimely death of Cliff Burton in a bus crash during the band’s European tour, all eyes were on Metallica as questions began to be asked about the band’s future.

Barely allowed time to grieve, the band set about finding Burton’s replacement in a gruelling process that ultimately resulted in Jason Newsted falling into these gargantuan shoes. With the label not wanting to lose any momentum, Metallica were immediately funnelled back into the studio to write the follow up to 1986’s seminal Master of Puppets.

When initial writing sessions only resulted in a single song, the band decided to return to basics and instead record an EP of covers in Ulrich’s garage.

Totally 25 minutes and containing 5 tracks, the resultant EP did not exactly set the world on fire, but it reassured fans that their favourite band were not throwing in the towel just yet. In a cheeky nod to the public, the band deliberately chose to name their release ‘The $5.98 EP’, in an attempt to stop retailers overcharging, even going so far as including a sticker encouraging fans to steal it if it was overpriced.

Whilst this admirable show of solidarity to fans not wanting to pay through the nose would age poorly in the decades to come, it did showcase the band’s refusal to be held by label concerns, and find levity in even the most tragic of times.