Kill ‘Em All is a thrash metal debut studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 25, 1983. Since its release, it has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA, having sold over three million copies in the US.
Metallica’s original line-up featured James Hetfield (guitar/vocals), Lars Ulrich (drums), Ron McGovney (bass), and Dave Mustaine (lead guitar). Because of tensions with Mustaine, McGovney left the band. Castro Valley-born bassist Cliff Burton was recruited as his replacement. Mustaine was fired in April 1983, just before the recording of Kill ‘Em All, for his drug and alcohol problems, overly aggressive behaviour and clashes with bandmates. After Mustaine’s departure, Metallica recruited Kirk Hammett, who previously played for Exodus and was a one time student of Joe Satriani. The band started recording the album with Hammett, whose guitar solos on the album were partially based on Mustaine’s original solos (the first four bars of most solo’s were written by Mustaine)
