A LEGENDARY Nineties rock band have smashed a huge record with one of their iconic albums – more than 30 years after its release date.
The American group – who credited The Rolling Stones for saving them from their split after years of drugs, booze and rows – have clocked up the milestone with their fifth album.
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Metallica’s self-titled album, commonly known as The Black Album due to the all-black sleeve with a just-visible logo and snake, was released in 1991.
It was produced by Elecktra Records with tracks including singles Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam and Nothing Else Matters.
A tour followed, with Los Angeles-based Metallica swiftly becoming the group’s most successful release.
It charted at number one in 10 countries at the time it hit shelves – and now it has reached a major record on the Billboard 200.
It has clocked up a huge 750 weeks on the chart and is now hot on the heels of Journey’s Greatest Hits at 813 weeks.
Then, Bob Marley’s legend lies in wait with at 843 and finally Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon at the top of the tree on 990 weeks.
A message on Billboard’s page on X announced the achievement and put: “@Metallica’s Metallica has now spent 750 total weeks on the #Billboard200 (No. 178 this week).”
The House of the Rising Sun hitmakers celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Black Album in 2021.
At the time, drummer Lars Ulrich – who formed Metallica with singer-guitarist James Hetfield – said of the release: “We had been loners, inspired by a lot of British hard rock but completely ostracised from the American mainstream.
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“We existed in our own little bubble which had nothing to do with the rest of the world.
“The idea that, ten years after forming, we could have a US No1 album for four straight weeks was preposterous.”
He added: “Obviously the record’s got incredible legs and now you and I are talking about it 30 years later. It’s crazy.
“If you ask Mick Jagger about the creation of Jumpin’ Jack Flash, I doubt he has some satisfying cosmically analytical answer.
“Sometimes these f***ing songs just happen and it’s best to just make sure you don’t f*** them up.”
Talking of Mick Jagger and co, Lars told us in 2019 the band’s invite to join them on tour proved a saving grace following their epic fallout n 2004.
He said: “The Rolling Stones called us up and said, ‘Come and play some shows with us in California,’ and we sort of agreed, you’re not going to say no to the Stones, so that was it.
“It gave us the way to start it back up again. Whether you’re a team in an office or a bunch of dudes in a rock and roll band, at some point people have to figure out how to get along and work as a team.
“If you don’t care, it’s easier to walk away, but fortunately we cared enough about Metallica on behalf of ourselves and the fans to figure out a way to make it function. I’m happy that we did.”
Last year, Metallica hit the stage at Download Festival as the headline act.
Their 16 song set was hailed “incredible” – and sent fans wild.
Now they can celebrate their major milestone while on tour in the US.
They have two gigs at the Gilette stadium in Massachusetts on Friday and Sunday, followed by a trip to Chicago the following week.
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