In 2000, Metallica were one of the first bands and artists who sued revolutionary peer-to-peer system Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without anyone's consent. A new era in the history of music and its distribution had just begun, thanx to the internet.

Metallica formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. Founded by drummer Lars Ulrich, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine, the latter soon substituted by Kirk Hammett. They always remained together through 3 decades until present, the only role to change quite frequently has been the bassist (original Ron McGovney soon replaced by historic bassist Cliff Burton who tragically died in 1986, then Jason Newsted and current Robert Trujillo). Metallica soon distinguished themselves within the Heavy Metal panorama, for their aggressive sound, influenced, as they always proudly recognized, by the main bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and some other obscure acts of the Metal, Punk, Hardcore scene (among them Budgie, Misfits, Discharge, Mercyful Fate, Killing Joke); the most seminal to them would have been often and willingly covered in their albums and during live gigs. Metallica are unanimously recognized among the inventors of Thrash/Speed Metal and the first to disclose the new genre to the masses through their first album, Kill 'em all. In their early years (1980's) they were part of a real movement of aggressive music, spread in California and known as "Bay Area Thrash" together with bands like Exodus, Slayer and later on, Megadeth (of former member Mustaine), Testament, Possessed. Heathen and others. This new sound quickly spead through USA and the rest of the world, and Metallica soon became in the heart of fans and in the statements of critics one of the "big four" of Thrash Metal, the others being Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Metallica have been one of the most beloved bands in the history of Heavy Metal, throghout their career they dramatically increased the number of followers; although they have been harshly criticized at almost every release after Kill 'em All, Metallica kept on changing and experimenting something different in every album until nowadays. Since their self-titled fifth album (known as The Black Album) in 1991, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, Metallica have also known a big commercial success and they're live gigs are still among the most fiery and haunted in the Hard and Heavy world. After nearly 30 years from the birth and growth of Thrash and Speed Metal genres, Metallica toured the world in 2010 and 2011 together with Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax, thus materializing the dream of every old (and young) Heavy Metal fan. The "big four" live together in the same night, unforgettable!!!