Lars Ulrich tells how they chose the name Metallica for the band

NPR asked Lars Ulrich how he came up with the idea of ​​naming the band as Metallica.

Read what he said:

“Well, I came up here actually in the spring of 1981 and ended up at a kegger over on Strawberry Hill. And I met a bunch of really cool San Francisco kids. One them was named Ron. And he told me he wanted to start his own fanzine, like a hard rock fanzine, where he wrote about all his favorite bands. And he wanted – he asked me whether he should call the fanzine Metallica or Metal Mania. So I suggested that he call it Metal Mania”.

(laughter)

Sagal: Really?

Luke Burbank: Is Ron the guy sharpening a knife outside the theater?

Sagal: Yeah.

(laughter)

Ulrich: Yes, he’s – yeah. I have to make a quick getaway out through that door.

The fanzine owners

Ron Quintana and Ian Kallen, the owners of the new fanzine made a list of names to choose from in a vote with project contributors. The winning name of this election was “Metallica”, but Lars loved the expression and strength and, without wasting time, suggested that the name Metal Mania would sound so much better for a fanzine. Quintana and Kallen, without noticing the ulterior motives in the story, agreed and Lars stole the winning name for his band.

And in an interview some time ago with Metal Core Fanzine, they asked Ron if he was annoyed that Lars had “stolen” his name.

Read what he said:

“I was happy to give the name for him. I was a metal fanatic so I chose Metal Mania, actually before he used the name Metallica because I actually did not want to use it. There was already the (name) Encyclopedia Metallica, which is a name very good, but for me Metal Mania was better and when he told me he was going to call his band “Metallica” I told him to make good use of it (laughs) “.

See more Interviews