High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The discography of Metallica, a San Francisco-based heavy metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums), consists of nine studio albums, four live albums, and numerous singles and videos, many of which were commercially successful. After several lead guitarist and bassist changes, the band settled on Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton, respectively. Metallica started playing locally, releasing its first widely circulated demo, No Life `til Leather, in 1982. The demo caught the attention of Johny Zazula, who signed Metallica to Megaforce Records. The band released Kill `Em All in 1983, and the following year they released Ride the Lightning. After Ride the Lightning was released, Metallica left Megaforce and signed to Elektra Records. In March 1986, the band released its third studio album, Master of Puppets, which was Metallica`s first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). While promoting the album, Burton was killed in a bus accident. Jason Newsted was hired as a replacement and the band`s first release to feature the new member was an EP of cover songs. ...And Justice for All was released in August 1988 and peaked at number six on the Billboard 200.