Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, later based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo rounding out the current lineup. Regarded as one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer, the band rose from underground thrash roots to global mainstream success, particularly with the self-titled 1991 “Black Album.”

Metallica has sold over 163 million albums worldwide, won ten Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, making them one of the most commercially successful and influential heavy metal bands in history.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica