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Enter Night: A Biography of Metallica Book Review
Metallica ultimately became probably the biggest heavy metal band ever, but like all bands, they started small.
This book Enter Night: A Biography of Metallica, written by music journalist Mick Wall, came out in 2011 and it chronicles pre-band days of members growing up, how the band got started, and a lot of other times from then on up to 2010.
Metallica are still growing strong in 2025, and to quote music journalist Lonn Friend “they are the Led Zeppelin of this generation”. Lonn said this in the 90s, but I believe he is correct.
Who knew that a band that heavy would ultimately become the biggest band out of the music scene they came out of, and really became a U2 level size band.
But they did it and they did it by working very hard and with a lot of luck and great timing.
Sadly, not everyone made it through the whole thing. Bassist Cliff Burton tragically passed away in a band bus accident in 1987. Original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who later formed the great metal band Megadeth, was fired in 1983, and bassist Jason Newsted quit after 14 years of being in the band in 2001.
But three out of the four core members, singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist/occasional lead guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett are still there, and bassist Robert Trujillo has been in the band for almost 22 years as of this writing.
And through all the ups and downs (going through therapy and rehab) and controversies among fans (the band cutting their hair and eventually making different sounding albums, especially in the 90s, fighting against Napster and ultimately fans who used Napster), Metallica have ultimately stayed strong, still make what I think are very good albums, and still are playing stadiums and frankly don’t need an opening act to sell that many tickets, but they still have openers and usually are great ones.
Not many bands can play stadiums, but Metallica can.
And they do it very well.
They’ve earned their success and this book chronicles all of this.
It’s not an official autobiography, but Mick Wall, the author, has interviewed most of the band members over the years and has used quotes from said interviews, along with quotes from other people who knew/know them and he put together what I consider to be an almost official autobiography.
My only complaint is that he puts his opinion in the book sometimes too much, but otherwise, it’s a great book and I highly recommend it.
I’ve been a Metallica fan for over 25 years and I always will be.
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Anvil The Story Of Anvil Movie Review
Anvil The Story Of Anvil is a documentary/movie that was made in the mid-2000s.
It chronicles the band Anvil, who have been around since the late 1970s and have made several albums.
Unfortunately, they never got to be huge.
They’ve always had their fan base and never stopped, but never quite got over the hump and became a household name and huge band.
As it turns out, a fan of theirs from the 80s who became a friend also, Sacha Gervasi, later went on to become a screenwriter for movies (including The Terminal) and he got back in touch with the singer/guitarist from Anvil, Steve “Lips” Kudlow.
Gervasi came up with the idea of filming the band, which also includes drummer Robb Reiner (no not the actor/director) and then bassist Glenn Five and guitarist Ivan Hurd and making a documentary movie about them.
This movie shows the band playing many places, sometimes with decent crowds, other times not so much, and getting screwed out of getting paid many times, and sometimes not even having proper transportation between shows.
It also shows the band, Lips and Robb in particular who formed the band and made a pact at 14 that they would rock together forever, getting back in touch with an old colleague, music producer Chris Tsangarides (rest in peace) and they agree they will make another album together. Although Lips and Robb have to come up with the money to make it too so they can own it, which is also chronicled in this movie.
It shows the internal struggles in the band while making this album, struggling to shop it around to different record labels, and ultimately, the album got shopped around enough to where Anvil got an opening slot on a huge Japanese festival called Loud Park, showing the band in all their glory rocking out to a big crowd.
There is a lot in this movie that has to be seen to be believed.
And I know some or many who have seen Anvil The Story Of Anvil believe it to be like the movie This Is Spinal Tap, and that it’s not real.
Believe me: It is real!!
And it must be seen.
It’s been out for many years now, and luckily, the movie was a big success and ultimately catapulted Anvil up enough to where they have been able to make a living finally with their music and have not had to work day jobs ever again.
No they didn’t make it to Led Zeppelin’s level of success, but they have done well.
And I’m glad they have been able to get to the level that they have.
Because they have worked hard and they are a good, solid band.
Check out their albums.
And please check out this movie.
Again, it’s called Anvil The Story Of Anvil.
I have two DVD releases of it.
The original and a re-release with even more bonus features.
And I’m sure it’s able to stream too.
Rock on Lips and Robb!!!
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Flight Risk Movie Review
I went to see the movie Flight Risk, which was released a week ago.
It stars Mark Wahlberg as a hitman posing as just a pilot out to get this government witness (played by Topher Grace) from testifying against someone.
Grace is being taken from Alaska to New York by a U.S. Marshal (played by Michelle Dockery) and let’s just say it’s a wild ride.
I really enjoyed this movie.
Wahlberg initally plays a pilot but his character goes from being very friendly and maybe even annoyingly friendly to being very dark and menacing.
Very well directed by Mel Gibson (regardless of his controversy, he’s a great filmmaker), Flight Risk is a very good thriller, keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat throughout.
Go see it.
