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
76
Episode 54: Rob Trujillo; M72 in Boston; I Disa...
The Metallica Report celebrates its first year, so Steff looks back at what was going on 12 months ago and finds Rob discussing Hawaii with ‘Chef Kirk,’ Renee is in Boston for the start of M72’s 2024 North American leg, and I Disappear ticket holders Katrina Anker, and Christina Møller talk about the special global Metallica fan community.
22 min
77
Episode 53: James Hetfield; John Bush; TAMA Dru...
Steffan catches up with John Bush, the singer of Armored Saint, formerly of Anthrax, and the man who once famously turned down the opportunity to front Metallica. John strolls down memory lane with Steffan, but not before he updates us on his latest project, Category 7 - a band James recently told us he’s pretty excited about!
27 min
78
Episode 52: James Hetfield; Lars Ulrich; Mike B...
Renée has been mighty busy with her day job lately. This week, All Within My Hands announced its fourth Helping Hands Concert & Auction AND that its groundbreaking Metallica Scholars program will now include 60 schools in all 50 US states + Guam! To celebrate that exciting AWMH news, Steffan chats with James about his design and creation of the Foundation’s logo, which includes a tracing of his own hand.
17 min
79
Episode 51: Robert Trujillo; James Hetfield; Mi...
M72 Europe is officially a wrap, and Steffan checks in with Robert following the final show in an absolutely buzzing Madrid as Spanish fans celebrate their Euro Cup victory!
25 min
80
Episode 50: Best of the Pod featuring Lars Ulri...
In this episode of the Metallica Report, Stefan Shirazi and Renee Richardson look back on the first fifty episodes of the Metallica Report with the help of Kars Ulirch, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett & Robert Trujillo
24 min
81
Episode 49: Rob Trujillo; Kirk Hammett
In this episode of the Metallica Report, Stefan Shirazi and Renee Richardson delve into Rob Trujillo’s experiences on the M72 European tour, share fan travel dreams, and announce an exciting contest to win a trip to Metallica’s final shows in Mexico City.
21 min
82
Episode 48: James Hetfield talks Copenhagen; Ro...
While in Denmark, Steffan jumps at the chance to talk to a certain band member about his history with the country… it just might not be the band member you’d expect. James has been visiting Denmark for 40 years and has developed a relationship of his own with the area.
18 min
83
Episode 47: James Hetfield; Fortnite, 760 Creat...
Steffan checks in from Copenhagen to brief Renée and the listeners about the official Fortnite X Metallica launch. Don’t worry if you’re not a gamer; Steff & Renée introduce what Fortnite is all about and share some essential details on this unique collaboration before digging into this week’s interviews.
25 min
84
Episode 46: James Hetfield & The Heaviest Mail Bag
Steffan grabs our favorite frontman to ask a few questions submitted by YOU - the listeners. And even better, when James is in the mood to chat, you know the answers will be fun!
19 min
85
Episode 45: Kirk Hammett; Francesco Polsinelli,...
It’s Kirk Hammett’s turn to share his back-on-tour thoughts with Steffan. (ICYMI, Steff chatted with Robert and James during the last couple of episodes.) Kirk shares his love for being on the road and how he’s constantly striving to remain musically in the moment. It’s safe to say it… this man thrives on stage!
25 min
86
Episode 44: Robert Trujillo; M72 Tour from Munich
Steffan and Renée travel to Munich for the kick-off of year two of the M72 World Tour! We get a rare front seat for Robert Trujillo’s “back on tour” process as he chats about what it’s like to get back out on the road after a break and takes Steffan along as he walks the stage for the first time in 2024.
28 min
87
Episode 43: James Hetfield
Steffan catches up with the one and only James Alan Hetfield. Following a nice long hibernation, the two sit down at HQ just as rehearsals for the upcoming European leg of the M72 Tour are about to kick off.
23 min
88
Episode 42: Month of Giving - Supporting Trade...
Steffan and Renée dive into the band’s foundation, All Within My Hands. Its Month of Giving campaign is currently shining the spotlight on the Metallica Scholars program, which supports trade education.
29 min
89
Episode 41: Local Chapter Super Fans - Oliver, ...
It’s all about the fans! Local chapter members and superfans Oliver (Head of St. Germany), Eric (Virginia Fuel), and Derek, James, and Glenn (Nebraska’s The Outlaw Corn) all join Steffan and Renée for a roundtable.
24 min
90
Episode 40: Robert Trujillo & Infectious Grooves
Steffan spends the day/night with Metallica’s bass-master, Robert Trujillo, as he slaps and grooves with a blast from his past as a member of the funk/metal supergroup Infectious Grooves. Steff hangs with the band during their sound check at their last stop on a mini eight-city tour in Berkeley, CA.
25 min
91
Episode 39: Zach Harmon, Metallica Tech
Steffan and Renée are joined by long-time Metallica tech Zach Harmon. Now a veritable Swiss Army Knife of tour and studio operations, Zach recounts the winding road to his current position that began nearly 40 years ago. He also provides insight into his unique relationships with Metallica’s pioneering bass players throughout the band’s tenure.
31 min
92
Episode 38: Metallica Local Fan Club Chapter Me...
It’s Q & A day! Team Metallica asked local fan club chapter members to submit their questions for the band, then Steffan and Renée took those questions and grabbed Kirk and Robert to give us some answers. Check it out!
21 min
93
Episode 37: Brian Tatler of Diamond Head
Riff master Brian Tatler cranks up the Wayback Machine to share stories of Diamond Head’s biggest (and possibly only) fan in America in 1981: a 17-year-old named Lars Ulrich. Turns out, that same kid was starting a band of his own. A few traded covers and several decades later, and the rest is history!
22 min
94
Episode 36: Kirk Hammett & Robert Trujillo on E...
A seemingly unlikely pairing, the paths of Elton John and Metallica have crossed over the years more than you might think. Ahead of PBS’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song broadcast honoring Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Kirk and Rob join Steffan and Renée to share a few fun stories about Sir Elton.
13 min
95
Episode 35: James Hetfield on Cigars; Robert Tr...
Steffan and Renée bring us the inside scoop on James Hetfield’s love of cigars, including the new BLACKENED “S84 Shade to Black” by Drew Estate. Then they check in with Robert Trujillo, who is in the midst of a few gigs with his Infectious Grooves crew, including shows in Australia!
32 min
96
Episode 34: Producer Greg Fildelman - Part 2
It’s time for part two of our conversation with our producer, Greg Fidelman. This one is for all of you who wanna know what it’s like being at the helm of the control room at HQ! Greg shares what it was like working with Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and the only other artist who’s actually recorded at HQ, Lou Reed. And don’t miss the story of how S&M2 came to be, starting, as you can imagine, with a phone call from Lars.
34 min
97
Episode 33: Producer Greg Fidelman
When it comes to Metallica’s creative process, Greg Fidelman has become the “unofficially official” fifth member of the band.
30 min
98
Episode 32: The Women Behind the Scenes of Meta...
In honor of International Women’s Day later this week, Renée takes on solo-hosting duties and brings along a few other women who keep the Metallica mothership moving. Make no mistake… there are plenty to choose from! We're talking about members of management, legal, accounting, marketing, merchandising, digital, recording, touring, the record label, the foundation, and, of course, HQ.
21 min
99
Episode 31: Ross Halfin
If you’ve seen a photo of Metallica, chances are you’ve seen one of Ross Halfin’s shots.
26 min
100
Episode 30: All Things HQ - Part 2: Tour Of Met...
The second installment of two episodes recorded at the band’s creative ground zero for over 20 years: Metallica HQ. Steffan and Renée tour the building with one of its longest inhabitants, Jeff Yeager - webmaster, touring photographer/videographer, and network manager.
29 min