Fade to Black (song)
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| "Fade to Black" | ||
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| Cover of Ride the Lightning | ||
| Song by Metallica | ||
| from the album Ride the Lightning | ||
| Released | November 16, 1984 | |
| Recorded | Sweet Silence Studios Copenhagen, Denmark, 1984 | |
| Genre | Thrash metal | |
| Length | 6:59 | |
| Label | Elektra Records | |
| Producer(s) | Metallica, Flemming Rasmussen , Mark Whitaker | |
| Ride the Lightning track listing | ||
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"Fade To Black" is a song by heavy metal band Metallica. The song was recorded for their second album, Ride the Lightning (1984). Some people consider the lyrical theme to be about a person who has decided to commit suicide; others do not share this view. It was written after almost all of their equipment, including a very rare amplifier, was stolen in Boston, MA, following a gig at the Channel Club on 14th January 1984. This event forced Metallica to borrow equipment from fellow tour band and friends, Anthrax, for the remainder of the tour.
It was the first "soft" song that Metallica released. It begins with an acoustic guitar introduction and becomes progressively heavier as the song goes on.
At the time, some of the more extreme elements of fans deemed the song a "sell out" as it was such a departure from Metallica's then normal style, but since its release, "Fade To Black" has been a fan favorite and a fixture in Metallica's live performances. It was also the last song that Metallica performed live with Jason Newsted. Ironically it was one of Newsted's favorite Metallica songs, and was said to be of great sentimental value to him, although it had been written before he had joined the band.
The song is credited to Hetfield / Ulrich / Burton / Hammett.
The song's title is never mentioned in the lyrics. However, the song's title is mentioned in the track The Memory Remains off the bands 1997 album, ReLoad.
[edit] See also
| Metallica |
| Members |
|---|
| James Hetfield - Kirk Hammett - Robert Trujillo - Lars Ulrich |
| Former members: Cliff Burton - Dave Mustaine - Ron McGovney - Jason Newsted |
| Discography |
| Albums and extended plays: No Life 'Til Leather - Kill 'Em All - Ride the Lightning - Master of Puppets - Garage Days Re-Revisited - ...And Justice for All - Metallica - Load - ReLoad - Garage Inc. - S&M - St. Anger - Some Kind of Monster - Ninth studio album-It's a very Metallica Christmas! |
| Videography |
| DVDs and videos: Cliff 'em All - 2 of One - A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica - Live Shit: Binge & Purge - Cunning Stunts - S&M - Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album - Some Kind of Monster - The Videos 1989-2004 |
