"I don't like to be pigeonholed, and I really like that people never really know what's going on with Metllica." — Lars Ulrich

• Members: Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich

• Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California

• Metallica broke through with their 1991 self-titled album, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This started a chart-topping streak for the band, who notched a record five consecutive No. 1 albums through 2008's Death Magnetic, making them the first act to accomplish that feat.

• Metallica earned their first career GRAMMY nomination for 1988 for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal Or Instrumental for … And Justice For All. The following year the band won their first career GRAMMY for Best Metal Performance for "One."

• Metallica made an animated cameo in a 2006 episode of "The Simpsons."

• James Hetfield was honored at the 2006 MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.