The band’s first live performance with Hammett was on April 16th 1983 at a club in Dover, New Jersey called The Showplace – they were supporting Anthrax, which featured Dan Lilker and Neil Turbin.
To make way for Mustaine was new guitarist Kirk Hammett – he was brought in to replace him after their drummer was sacked.
** The other band members basically had to kick Mustaine out of the band owing to his rubbish behaviour and addiction issues right before they started recording on April 11th, 1983. keep
Metallica’s first live performance with Burton was at The Stone in March 1983.
Burton’s first recording with the band was the Megaforce demo (1983).
** Metal Massacre I dropped on June 14th 1982 keep
For the first time ever, Hetfield played guitar live at the band’s fifth gig in May 1982.
By the band’s fourth gig – in April 1982 in Costa Mesa – they’d already had a couple of lineup changes, with lead guitarist Brad Parker joining for the night.
Hetfield sang his first gig with the band in March 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, with the band’s brand new bassist Ron McGovney.
In late 1982, Ulrich and Hetfield went to see a show at the West Hollywood nightclub Whisky a Go Go , where they saw Cliff Burton play – they were “blown away” and decided he was the one for them to join.