The Metallica Report

The Metallica Report

Keep up with all things Metallica by going straight to the source. Now you can get your news directly from those entrenched in the band’s own Northern California headquarters. This weekly report is hosted by Steffan Chirazi and Renée Richardson, two members of the Metallica Camp. Steffan is a long-time rock scribe and editor of the band’s online mag, So What!, whose days covering Metallica began in the 1980s with the British music magazines Sounds and Kerrang! Renée is the Director of Philanthropy for the band’s foundation, All Within My Hands, and also has a storied background in music as a well-known Bay Area radio personality. Each week will sound a little different, but you’ll always remain in the loop. Steffan and Renée will keep you posted with the latest news and updates from Metallica HQ and the road as the M72 Tour makes its way around the world. They’ll bring you mini-features for a little peek behind the curtain, and you’ll learn bits of info you won’t find anywhere else through chats with everyone from members of the road crew to poster artists, from fans to band members themselves! They won’t just tell you what you need to know; they’ll also get to the bottom of what you want to find out! Listeners can submit questions, and Steffan and Renée will get to work finding answers. You’ll enjoy all of this and more with The Metallica Report, your quick, weekly fix covering our most relevant topics of the day. A proud part of Pantheon Podcasts Produced by Pantheon Media & PopCult Executive Producers: Marc Reiter, Vickie Strate, Doug Oswandel Written by: Steffan Chirazi & Renee Richardson Production Coordinator: Lane Watson

Episodes

April 23, 2025 23 mins
The week of April 22, 2025 on The Metallica Report… As soon as the show in Syracuse concludes, Steffan and Renée are hard at work recapping the M72 2025 kickoff, still riding high off the energy in the JMA Wireless Dome. And no report is hotter off the press than Steff’s conversation with Robert Trujillo in the back of his van, leaving the venue. We also get the inside scoop from Robert and Kirk Hammett on what this year has in st...
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The week of April 16, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Steffan has set up shop in the middle of HQ on a rehearsal day as he and Renée count down the days until Syracuse hosts Metallica for the first time in 29 years! After a surprise guest quickly crashes the pod, Steff chats with superfan Todd Styles, and Renée gets the rundown on the M72 Blood Drives from Darren Irby of the American Red Cross. Our hosts also discuss the M72 Takeove...
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The week of April 9, 2025 on The Metallica Report… As the anticipation for M72 2025 builds, dedicated members of the Metallica Family chime in with their favorite Metallica moments. Martijn van Wieringen, Robert Elliot, April Mancuso, Chris Yerges, and Tory Eide each bring us to the heart of their chosen live memories accompanied by music from each respective show. And our hosts—always willing to share their unique experiences—tel...
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The week of April 2, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Renee, Steff, and Robert Trujillo meet three of the many magnificent students from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, the marquee program funded by the band’s foundation, All Within My Hands. During a Zoom call hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges, we hear from Danira, a welding student challenging gender norms; Dryden, who swapped fast food for computer scienc...
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The week of March 26, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Kirk Hammett joins to talk about his brand new book with Gibson Publishing, The Collection: Kirk Hammett, and dives into a series of stories about the guitars within its pages. From Flying Vs to Les Pauls—with plenty of other gems in between—Kirk discusses his relationship with these instruments, what they mean to him spiritually, the influences behind some of the acquisitions, a...
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The week of March 19, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We explore Metallica’s collaboration with Apple to create a pioneering, 25-minute live concert film from the M72 Mexico City stop in September 2024 using immersive technology with Apple Vision Pro.  Lars Ulrich, Zane Lowe, and Robert Trujillo chime in about how this technology breaks the fourth wall between the band and the fans. Then, members of the Metallica Family who experie...
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The week of March 12, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Steff and Renée chat with Metallica’s lighting director, designer, and all-around music lover, Rob Koenig. A true wealth of knowledge, he discusses his process, lighting concepts behind M72, previous tours, new lighting technology, and why rainstorms are no longer a threat for Metallica shows. Rob also details his enormous passion for music, his relationship with James, Lars, Kir...
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The week of March 5, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We’re back at HQ to speak with two vital members of the HQ Audio Crew and arguably the kindest people in the building: Sara Killion and Kent Matcke.  Chief among Sara’s many responsibilities as producer Greg Fidelman’s trusted studio aide is charting and mapping every sound that Metallica makes while recording. Meanwhile, Kent facilitates audio and technical aspects of rehearsals...
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The week of February 26, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We pick back up with Steff and Renée, who are still immersed in Metallica’s archival vault. In this episode, they travel down a James Hetfield rabbit hole filled with original notebooks, lyrics, doodles, and more. Reveling in the energy emanating from the pages, our hosts seize the opportunity to get an intimate read on the frontman from a much younger season, noting how inten...
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The week of February 19, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Led by Inveniem archivist Ally Bace, Steff and Renée enter the Metallica vault to explore physical pieces of the band’s history, including master tapes, handwritten notes, diaries, clothing, and so much more. Ally discusses her journey to becoming an archivist, the forensic process of handling the artifacts, and the emotional power these pieces hold, something Steff encounters...
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The week of February 12, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We speak with the Metallica HQ Studio Runners—Jackson Langford, Jack Ketchum, Alex Coltharp, and Dana Lindstrom—about their tasks and duties around the building and beyond. From massive lunch runs to damaging cars and walls (with a purpose, of course) and from restringing guitars to joining the touring crew, some assignments are definitely less predictable than others.  Plus,...
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The week of February 5, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Legendary music critic David Fricke details his decades-long journey with Metallica, writing some of rock journalism’s most unflinching and detailed stories about the band through the pages of Rolling Stone magazine. Beginning with their first full-assignment encounter on the Damaged Justice tour, David shares observations of Metallica’s unique fan connection and growth as the ...
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The week of January 29, 2025 on The Metallica Report… Percussionist Jimmy Clark, also known in the Metallica world as Lars Ulrich’s tech, joins us to share stories of his own career, how he became friends with a mischievous young Danish drummer back in the day, his industry education in Nashville, and how he worked his way from the rafters to the stage with Metallica. Jimmy also discusses his own adherence to perfectionism and how ...
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The week of January 22, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We continue our techs-behind-the-band series with Justin Crew, Kirk Hammett’s right-hand guitar-man of 29 years. Justin recounts the genesis of his own career from Go West to AC/DC, how he landed the Metallica/Hammett gig, the terror of flatbed trucks, being on the Poor Touring Me tour, and what his work on M72 requires. Justin also discusses Greeny, the guitar famous in its ow...
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The week of January 15, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We hear from guitar tech Chad Zaemisch. He shares what it’s like being interviewed for a job by prospective boss James Hetfield, then details his creative and technical approach to the role. He discusses how the gig has changed over the last 22 years, what working a show is like, and the importance of trust in his relationship with James. Finally, Chad recalls some memorable an...
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The week of January 8, 2025 on The Metallica Report… We speak with James Hetfield about his perennial and peerless lyrics. Our songwriter shares what he loves about the architecture of words, whether he sees himself as a storyteller, and his appreciation of Tom Waits. Then, we take a trip back through the So What! archives to revisit his approach to songs such as “Harvester Of Sorrow,” “Moth Into Flame,” and “ManUNkind.” Finally, ...
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The week of January 1, 2025 on The Metallica Report… As we welcome 2025, Steff and Renée had to take one last chance to appreciate the year that was with their favorite moments and guests from The Metallica Report 2024. From bird-watching to high school memories to world tour vibes, this one covers a lot of ground! So sit back and enjoy reminiscing with James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Brian Tatler, Les...
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December 25, 2024 23 mins
The week of December 25, 2024 on The Metallica Report… With the holiday season in full swing, we hear from Metallica’s confirmed cinephile, Lars Ulrich. Having seen 18 films at the Mill Valley Film Festival alone, he speaks about some of his favorite movies over the last few months. And for good measure, Steff has him throw in his current musical flavors, as well. Meanwhile, Robert Trujillo shares his modest New Year’s Resolution...
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The week of December 18, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steff and Renée bring all the details from last week’s Helping Hands Concert & Auction at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. Coverage starts during rehearsals when Lars and Robert share the band’s approach to the unique nature of this traditionally acoustic/electric show. Metallica superfan Jason Momoa takes us back to his entrée into music, his love of bass, and his admiration ...
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The week of December 11, 2024 on The Metallica Report… Steff and Renée are getting ready for the fourth biennial Helping Hands Concert & Auction on Friday, December 13, by speaking with two of this year’s honorees. First, Renée catches up with actress Maggie Baird (aka the mother of Billie Eilish and Finneas) from Support + Feed. If that organization sounds familiar, it’s because Support + Feed joined us on the 2024 North America...
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