John Monster

John Monster (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica.Monster is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and some solos, both live and in the studio.Monster co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released nine studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles.

 

My mother was the first singer
I had contact with. She sang constantly to us around the house, in church.

 

In 2009,Monster was ranked at no. 8 in JoelMonster book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, and ranked at no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World’s poll,Monster was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placedMonster as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time.

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