Thank you to weheart for this review of Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale

Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale

new exhibition celebrates raw energy of the fledgling superstars...

Music
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale


February 2nd, 2011

Back in the early 80s, before pyrotechnics, orchestras and 24 month world tours, Metallica were tearing apart the ‘bay scene’, punishing audiences in California with their super-fast, raw metal. Photographer Bill Hale was in the right place at the right time and, celebrating 30 years in the business for heavy metal’s biggest band, Camden’s Proud Galleries have been granted unique access to Hale’s archive of Metallica between 1982 and 1984. Opening tomorrow (3rd February), this is the latest in a long line of inspirational exhibitions shown at Europe’s most popular private photography gallery and we’ve got an exclusive look at just some of the blisteringly powerful images on display…



Fade to Black runs at Camden’s Proud Galleries from 3rd February until 3rd April, all photographs © Bill Hale
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale




Cliff Burton, a friend and Dave Mustaine, “I remember Cliff, Dave and I walking out of the Stone after the show. The Photo bug hit me and I asked the guys to pose for a photo. Little did any of Us know that Dave would be asked to leave the band in a couple of weeks and Cliff would be gone forever in a few short years!”
March 19th, 1983. The Stone, San Francisco
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale



Backstage at the Old Waldorf. “Ron, James, Lars and Dave, my last attempt at a group shot with McGovney still in Metallica. It was clear that Ron was too normal for the rest of the band. So, Dave spilled beer on Ron’s jeans…”
October 18th, 1982. The Old Waldorf, San Francisco
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale




“Looking back, it was fun to see the band progress. Not just as musicians but as people… With down time between the tour in support of Ride the Lightning and a couple of months before the band was to start recording for Master of Puppets, I found Lars hanging out after an Iron Maiden gig. Lars had gone from a major fan of the music to signing autographs himself!”
July 3rd, 1985. San Jose Civic, San Jose Ca.
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale



James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich & Dave Mustaine back stage. “In retrospect, this image can speak volumes… Was Dave already getting on Lars’ short list? Was the tension between the two coming to a head?? Or just young Bulls being young Bulls???
Later that night Dave got his “revenge” so to speak in a post gig photo session…”
March 19th, 1983. The Stone, San Francisco
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale



Cliff Burton and Dave Mustaine “Now playing bass for Metallica… I give you Mr. Cliff Burton. Hamming around backstage just before Cliff walked on stage and into Heavy Metal History!!!”
March 5th, 1983. The Stone, San Francisco
Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale



James on stage
March 5th, 1983. The Stone, San Francisco