Image: Metallica [Official Press Photo]
Are you a Metallica fan and still need to plan your next vacation? We have plenty of travel tips for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of the Thrash Metal band!
Why not give your vacation some Metal flair? It doesn't always have to be just regular sightseeing. With our travel tips, you can achieve exactly that and basically travel in the footsteps of your favorite band. Metallica, with their huge popularity, have made their mark all over the world, so there are quite a few travel destinations where you can follow their band history.
Whether you are interested in the birthplaces of the band members, American music clubs, sources of inspiration for Metallica's album covers, or famous recording studios - we have tracked down these places for you.
Travel To The Birthplaces Of The Band Members
Let's start at the very beginning, at the birthplaces of James Hetfield & Co. After all, this is where it all started, in the 60s. Almost all members, and former members, were born in the USA. Specifically, in California. This state is already worth a vacation on its own, as it features Hollywood, the huge city of Los Angeles, endless Pacific beaches, and impressive national parks. But it is also the home state of all current Metallica members, except for Lars Ulrich, who comes from Denmark.
- James Hetfield: Downey, California
- Lars Ulrich: Gentofte, Denmark
- Kirk Hammett: San Francisco, California
- Robert Trujillo: Santa Monica, California
- Cliff Burton: Castro Valley, California
- Jason Newsted: Battle Creek, Michigan
Among these locations, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Castro Valley, and Gentofte are especially worth visiting. Anyone who wants to breathe in Metallica's homeland is already in the right place here. If you love city trips, you can choose San Francisco, the fourth-largest city in California, with everything a traveler could wish for. The city lies by the sea, offers historical sights, and much more. Not far away is Castro Valley: a great place for nature lovers, as there are many surrounding parks with hiking opportunities. Santa Monica lies at the coast and directly adjacent to Los Angeles, providing an excellent opportunity to combine LA sightseeing and a beach vacation!
Gentofte is a very chic suburb of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark - perfect for a vacation in Europe, if that's closer to you or if you've never been to Denmark. Here too, it's not far to the water!
North America: USA
Significant Shows
Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California. Naturally, they also played their first shows and recorded their first songs there. Metallica's first concert took place at Radio City in Anaheim, not far from Los Angeles. Unfortunately, the venue closed a few years later.
Their first concert with Kirk Hammett was in 1983 in Dover - no longer on the West Coast, but near New York City on the East Coast. The club was called The Showplace and was located in New Jersey:
- 347 S Salem St
Today, however, the charitable organization Nourish.NJ is located here.
In 1999, Metallica's first symphony album S&M was released. The band performed in April 1999 in Berkeley, California, and the recordings from this performance ended up on the album. You can even visit the Berkeley Community Theater, where Metallica performed. It belongs to Berkeley High School, which regularly hosts performing arts shows open to the public to support the young performers.
- 1930 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Recording Studios
There are quite a few recording studios where Metallica recorded their masterpieces. In most cases, simple visits are not possible, but if you still want to make a road trip through chic neighborhoods and coastal regions, here are the right points of interest!
Their first album, Kill ‘Em All, was recorded at the Music America Studios in Rochester, New York. In April 2024, the residential building on the same site was offered for sale for several million US dollars. If that exceeds your budget, you can still view the single-family house from the outside:
- 234 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, USA
With the famous albums …And Justice For All and Metallica, they went to the One on One Recording Studio in Los Angeles. The studio is still active and has had bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Bon Jovi, and KISS among its clients. There's not much to see from the outside - but if you’re an aspiring sound engineer, you can apply for an internship!
- 5240 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
A stay in Sausalito is recommended if you want a coastal vacation with a view of the 2200 Studios - you also only need to cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get to San Francisco. In the 2200 Studios (formerly Record Plant Recording Studios), Metallica recorded their albums Load and ReLoad. Just for Lars Ulrich's drum sound, the ceiling of the studio was raised for over 1 million US dollars! By the way, you can also try your luck here as an intern or assistant …
- 2200 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965
Death Magnetic was recorded in Malibu, California, at the Shangri-La Recording Studio. The area is right on the beach and also amidst various nature parks like the Point Mugu State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, with numerous hiking trails to choose from.
- 30065 Morning View Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
The Conway Recording Studios produced Metallica's EP Garage Days Re-Revisited. They are located in the middle of Hollywood, Los Angeles - the best opportunity to visit the Walk of Fame, where Metallica also left their mark in 1999.
- 5100 Melrose Ave, Hollywood, CA 90038
St. Anger, Hardwired … to Self-Destruct, and 72 Seasons were recorded at Metallica Headquarters (HQ) in San Rafael, California. The building is very inconspicuous from the outside, but if your Metallica tour is to be complete, then the band's headquarters is surely a point on your list.
- San Rafael, 53 Jordan Street
Cliff Burton Memorial Plaque
Cliff Burton's death in 1986 deeply affected both his bandmates and the entire metal world. A memorial plaque was dedicated to him in his hometown of Castro Valley, which can be found on the Barbary Coast Trail.
For those who enjoy walking and don't mind a hike, you can follow the Barbary Coast Trail through San Francisco: The trail is just over 6 km long and takes you through the history of the city. You can find your way through the bronze plaques and arrows embedded in the ground. Through the connection to cable cars, you can start wherever you want and return to your starting point at any time. If you want to take in all the information about the Gold Rush in the American West, the historic buildings, and the museums along the way, you can get an audio guide or a printed guide.
If you prefer a direct route, here is the address for Cliff Burton's memorial plaque:
- 560 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
Music Video Location: “I Disappear”
The song “I Disappear” was not only on the soundtrack of “Mission: Impossible II” but also got its own stunt-filled music video. Several locations are worth a visit. The best view is undoubtedly Monument Valley in Utah, where Metallica was filmed on a sandstone formation. The highest pillar of the Castle Butte Formation was chosen for this. In this breathtaking area, you can go hiking or simply follow the roads by car, but Metallica could only climb the sandstone pillars by helicopter. Climbing is prohibited in the park.
The airplane scene was filmed on the dry lake bed of El Mirage, where there's not much to see except for a vast, dry plain. However, you can still drive to this region near Los Angeles by car.
The staircase scenes were shot at a much more appealing location; in San Francisco City Hall, which you can visit.
For all interested, here is the making of the video:
A Toilet With History
Normally, a toilet is not necessarily a point on the travel bucket list. But we can make it a bit more appealing because the toilet is located in a restaurant: Tommy’s Joynt. You can go there for a relaxed meal and a drink at the bar, as the Metallica guys did in 1986. And when you do head to the toilet: That's where Lars Ulrich informed Jason Newsted after a few drinks that he would be the new bassist for Metallica.
Some Streets In San Francisco
You surely know the song “Battery” from one of Metallica's most famous albums, Master Of Puppets. This song is inspired by Battery Street in San Francisco, where many of the clubs Metallica played their early shows were located. One such place was “The Old Waldorf,” now called “Punch Line”. Instead of rock musicians, comedians now perform there, so you can check it out!
- 444 Battery St, San Francisco, CA 94111
James Hetfield grew up in the Downey area. Some streets in the neighborhood are Lakewood Blvd, Brookshire Avenue, and Muller Street. The Downey High School, where Hetfield went to school in the 70s, even inducted the singer into their Hall Of Fame. Here’s the way:
- 11040 Brookshire Ave, Downey, CA 90241
A Selection Of Venues
Metallica have played in so many clubs worldwide in their career that not all venues can be listed here. However, we still present a small selection.
The John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia was the venue for the grand “The Monsters of Rock Festival” in 1988, where Metallica played alongside the Scorpions and Van Halen. Today, this is the Philadelphia Sports Complex.
The Selland Arena in Fresno, California, has hosted concerts by Elvis, Deep Purple, and Elton John. Metallica performed here several times, including in 1988, 1992, and 1996.
Have you heard of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival? You should have, because many big names have performed on its stage. The festival in Manchester, Tennessee, not only had Metallica in the lineup but also the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, and many other greats. The next festival date is June 12-15, 2025, so mark your calendar!
From 1974 to 1997, “The Rathskeller” in Boston was one of the hottest venues for rock concerts, and Metallica also played there. Today, however, the very chic Hotel Commonwealth stands there. It doesn’t have much to do with good old rock 'n roll anymore, but if you want a luxury vacation, this is the place to be.
Europe
The band members have also spent time in Europe, be it for album productions or tours. Find out here which treasures from their discography were created here and where they found inspiration for their cover artworks.
The First EU Shows
Metallica played their first headliner tour in Europe in 1984, with the first show at the Volkshaus in Zurich, Switzerland. Legends like AC/DC and KISS have also performed there, and concerts are still held today, so let’s go!
The first show in Germany was at the Hemmerleinhalle in Neunkirchen am Brand, but this venue no longer exists. However, the second show was at the Volksbildungsheim in Frankfurt, which is now used as a cinema. Here’s the address:
- Eschenheimer Anlage 40
In England, Metallica first visited London and performed at the Marquee Club, a historic music club at the heart of the rock scene. After 1988, the location changed several times, but Metallica was there at this address:
- 90 Wardour St, London
If you want to check the venues of all other EU dates from '84 or beyond, you'll find them in the tour archive.
Denmark:
Denmark is not only the birthplace of Lars Ulrich but also of Metallica's second studio album Ride The Lightning and its follow-up Master of Puppets. The band recorded these at the Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen. The resident producer Flemming Rasmussen was also the driving force behind the album ...And Justice For All, which was recorded in LA. The studio is still in operation today and has offered masterclasses for sound engineers in the past. If you're interested, keep an eye out for new dates on their website.
Sweden:
Unfortunately, there is also a very sad event in Metallica's history that occurred during a European tour in 1986. While the band was traveling by tour bus in Sweden, a serious accident occurred, resulting in the death of their then-bassist Cliff Burton. In his memory, the Cliff Burton Museum was established in Lagan, not far from the accident site. The museum has recently begun collaborating with Flemming Rasmussen from the Sweet Silence Studios.
The address:
- Laganvägen 2, 341 50 Lagan, Sweden
The memorial stone for Cliff Burton was erected near the accident site and is easily accessible by car, not far from the museum.
Germany:
If you've never been to the historic German city of Munich, now you have the final incentive. The city not only hosts the famous Oktoberfest, the Hofbräuhaus, and the Olympic Park but also the inspiration for Metallica's album …And Justice For All. The statue of Justitia (Justice) can be found on the Palace of Justice. A photo of her was used as a reference for the artwork.
Also, the cover of Lulu, the album by Lou Reed and Metallica, was based on a discovery in Germany, this time in the capital, Berlin. At the Museum der Dinge, they discovered the wax bust Lulu, which made it onto the album cover.
We hope this gives you plenty of ideas for several road trips and Metallica-based sightseeing. Have fun traveling and exploring!
