Metallica - Fade To Black (Metal Hammer Festival 1985 )

Recorded at the Metal Hammer Festival at Freilichtbuhne Loreley in St. Goarshausen, Germany on September 14th, 1985
James Hetfield - vocals, rhythm guitar
Kirk Hammett - lead guitar
Lars Ulrich - drums
Cliff Burton - bass guitar

[@jarrettfullerton2580]

The fact that James can write shit like this in his early 20s shows you just how freakishly talented the guy is

[@zlobert9877]

I agree fully but also dont forget Kirk Hammett. Not how fast or how crazy he can play,but how memorable his every solo is. Not a virtue i see often.

[@ali965]

@@zlobert9877 damn right you can’t forget kirk. how he wrote some of the most memorable solos in the world at 21-25 is insane

[@Nichwar19]

Well people write most of their best shit in their 20s

[@jarrettfullerton2580]

@@Nichwar19 yeah I get that...but some of the most complex and detailed heavy music ever with deep lyrical themes at 22 or so as a high school dropout

[@jistikoff2361]

All four of them wrote this song - James, Kirk, Cliff and Lars

[@nachiiitoooywea]

4:45 one of the best moments ever recorded on video... james, lars, cliff and kirk headbanging the hell out, kicking tons of ass

[@SuperSlawter]

@T-RopE I'd love it, but James said no chance. He said he misses his long hair on stage, but can't stand it other than that.

[@anneeeev]

6:40 too ❤️❤️

[@bilalcan2366]

the best thing was that cliff never stopped headbanging from the beginning

[@VinCostanza]

I like how they are all synchronized

[@thomasvilder3010]

yes.. my favorite part too BEST live performance ever... sums up whats tallica is all about :) also notice at 6:05 where cliff try to have a rest hes neck, but larss snaredrum drags him right back into it.. i love it :)'

[@asabrailz]

that bass is lovely

[@eduardobinotto4818]

MASTER BURTON. THE BEST EVER.

[@basskidjoshua9241]

:)

[@randomraisins7954]

True. Cliff is a legend, RIP ;(

[@jaketaylor8176]

A bit too loud LOL. Ironic jason was always too quiet

[@miniboomdood]

RIP James Hetfields’ amplifier Gone away too soon

[@prometheustv6558]

Some Random Guy It didn’t die it was stolen

[@Coram_D30]

@@prometheustv6558 bruh

[@adityakiranbhattacharya2225]

@@prometheustv6558 wow

[@ali965]

rip james hetfield’s mom who gifted him the amp before she died

[@emiliosamperio628]

​@@ali965 omg its that true? Where you got it?

[@sbentsen2714]

you can really hear cliff's bass playing on here, so so special man.

[@raedeenbartreau3917]

Good call man

[@rosiewhitfield123]

So so special. I love him enough to of named my oldest son after him. 💜🤘

[@daves7079]

He bass wasn't plugged in

[@infohorse3147]

@@rosiewhitfield123 That's fucking awesome.

[@rosiewhitfield123]

Austin Rainbolt thank you. My kids dad and I were MetallicA fans and he asked me can we name a son if we have one, Cliff after Cliff Burton of course. I said sure because Cliff Burton was to me a decent guy. In a way my son has the Irish/Scottish auburn hair like I have.

[@VJG901]

Cliff still alive , James without tattoo , Lars don't make a shit. Golden times of Metallica.

[@sbentsen2714]

yes, these really were special times in my opinion

[@mikahguitar]

You forgot to mention Kirk not messing up every other solo. Still love Metallica tho

[@robinsanness6539]

what's wrong with the tattoos?

[@kurtzcol]

@@jord9261 whats good about them

[@eduardobinotto4818]

Cliff can not be replaced, and there's nothing that we or Metallica can do.

[@bitas320d]

Man, Cliff was born to perform....

[@poophead6847]

5:10 James is like "oh right im suppose to headbang"

[@juande9750]

He was waiting for the camera, to headbang haha

[@austriadorkus]

you can see a lot in the old videos how james would look at cliff and imitate him. you can see james really admired and looked up to cliff

[@angelsantos2601]

😂😂👀

[@gerardogonzalez9398]

austriadorkus 😢 rip cliff

[@Dewitt-b8n]

@@austriadorkus Cliff was the teacher

[@eddieaguilar644]

Cliff Burton❤👍

[@friggenjoe4092]

Eddie Aguilar I only came to watch the video for cliff tbh.

[@rgutierrez017]

This is one of the best if not the best performance of FADE TO BLACK ever.

[@blaze_4280]

rafael gutierrez hit the lights the making of through the never version is pretty badass as well

[@johncodee9175]

Definitely!! 👍👍

[@el.bihtador6159]

rafael gutierrez i think nothing beats moscow as far as it concerns this song

[@bandolierboy1908]

El.Bihtador Moscow one was quite bad. The only thing good about it was kirks lead tone, and the massive crowd

[@blueblaze1987]

Check out Seattle 89

[@TheIgorSnowden]

The band was never the same without Cliff. He has been missed on every record since his death. To me Ride The Lightning remains their best album.

[@cdoutdoors8207]

same

[@charleycomer3589]

Yes

[@tucrush2273]

Top notch

[@johnhavardvalebrokk6151]

for those of you who were in their 20s during this time: you lucky bastards. getting awesome music that we don't get today.

[@MustObeyTheRules]

John Håvard Valebrokk oh really? Thanks to the internet, I'm still hearing it today.....

[@karl-johannorgren3556]

Instead, there are new bands upcoming. Many that are really great and have potential to be really big. Nice to have seen them in their early days then!

[@TheRealEricMitchell]

Karl-Johan Norgren I honestly can't think of any new bands that are actually good. The newest band I really like is Avenged Sevenfold and they're like 1999 or something.

[@karl-johannorgren3556]

The Real Eric Mitchell I hear them all the time, mostly local bands and smaller bands. For example I have found a danish thrash metal band called Impalers. Look them up!

[@brfam1977]

I was on 8 but three years later I discovered Metallica ...and Justice for All. First thing I ever bought with my own money along with a cheap knock off Walkman

[@Urumbel1967]

In 1985, I was 18 years old and this was my second concert in my life, which I have visited. I still have a lot of memories about this incredible day.😍👍

[@feydrautha2644]

👍

[@samueljansen6372]

Beautiful

[@tallica3595]

Putz!!! Você foi??

[@montebell7361]

80s... when concerts kicked ass!!

[@russkate88]

And not a cell phone in sight.

[@asinine7545]

5:14 listen to that mf bass i love u cliff

[@kevencarson4226]

I'm 50yrs old and I find it Sadly TRADGIC that my Grandchildren will NEVER experience anything like this LIVE, in their lives'!!??

[@ivanibarra6542]

I’m 21 but I wish I could’ve been around for this metalica. There’s something about cliff burton that makes it so authentic

[@prometheustv6558]

ivan ibarra That’s actually how old James was in this performance.

[@durrrrl3435]

PrometheusTV He’s 22 here.

[@guitaratfourty]

Through theor music and believin In yourself. You çan.

[@jackcottrell8545]

That was Metallica

[@aaronlm2949]

U spelt metallica wrong but yea i agree

[@joeenke6440]

Cliff Burton,God bless you man,wherever you are.

[@johncodee9175]

By far the best version of this song live, even with the poor sound quality. Kirk's Jackson RR screaming at the end (06:20) after the crescendo of harmonies is just pure emotion!

[@rgutierrez017]

OLNY 3834 views??????? WTF , this is the best version of FADE TO BLACK ever. How come all of those old Metallica fans are not watching this video??

[@robisaacm]

rafael gutierrez actually this video is from Cliff em All video. y tiene millones de views, creó que este canal es nuevo, por eso no tiene tantas visitas.

[@mattmcawesome1479]

......good taste is very rare ! Totally agree with you on this one............

[@generalshamic4777]

+robisaacm Why did you start your comment with english then go into spanish?

[@mrratshet5792]

rafael gutierrez we still exist bruv just older owning homes working married with kids lololol my glory days drinking quarter ounce bottles of beer smoking & thrashing metal

[@jerseydevil1066]

We were there. We don't seek out videos.

[@metalman552]

That Ride the Lightning sound brings back so many memories as a kid. :)

[@jakesteelm0319]

In my opinion, I personally think this is the best performance Metallica has ever done.

[@penguincaped7154]

I love how lars is just a metal silhouette drumming his ass off here, really adds to the atmosphere of the song imo.

[@bandolierboy1908]

Hell yeah. So badass

[@Uzurr69]

Word!

[@muntazircreatesmovies123]

Happy Birthday Cliff❤❤

[@trevorbrowning6345]

Best live performance of this song I have ever heard.

[@haralddaumler429]

The Sound of James' Rhythm Guitar at the very end is simply amazing. So powerful !!!

[@mysry1001]

Absolutely loved this version of fade to black. It's so beautiful

[@johnnyangus1511]

I'm not sure that any band will ever be as good as this band. God bless Metallica.

[@feydrautha2644]

I hope they will))

[@DoubtingThomas333]

There is, but they're more 'heavy' than Metallica. In case you were interested, check out Knocked Loose.

[@99Yteu]

Zeppelin

[@KevinQ1989]

Sabbath, Priest and Maiden

[@iamaqnick]

Megadeth and Judas priest

[@johncodee9175]

Back when lighters weren't phones in the audience! Take me back in time to 1985 and leave me there! 🕯🤘🤘

[@thomassawyer6705]

And ecstasy was pure and Uncut

[@Seasee]

So true.... I would take 88' :)

[@byrguy1295]

@@thomassawyer6705 Lol ya drugs got pretty cheap and strong from about the mid 80's on💣🔥 Something has been lost with most weed though imo. I remember when anything green got you high AF now it's a crapshoot

[@velocitrader]

Amazing how many people were into them in '85 without any mainstream support.

[@russkate88]

Just shows how good they were

[@mathisdenis9864]

Man, there's nothing more beautiful to see than band at their prime time.

[@Badster]

1:36 hairs standing on end. That crowd. That Metallica. Cliff.... James' voice. Kirk's guitar soaring. Lars caring. Tune. What a moment in time.

[@metaldigger]

And remember they were not a big big band and the crowd knew their lyrics

[@dravenvigil4790]

Cliff em ALL

[@philippevanvoorthuizen252]

Hetfields voice is so unique

[@thomasgary1219]

Me and some friends were homeless in Houston Tx in the mid eighties. We lived together in an abandoned house along the highway 59 corridor. This song and album in a weird way actually gave us hope. I loved Metallica then and still do today. I joined the army and have had a successful life since then. Watching this reminded me of that time in my life, and I wonder what became ot my old friends

[@user-ux1vj9vx7s]

…When the night has come And the land is dark

[@jackjordan7386]

i hope you found your friends

[@thomasgary1219]

@@user-ux1vj9vx7s Since writing the comment above, I have found 2 out of the 7 of us that lived together in an abandoned house for several months.

[@jacoblopez517]

I used to think Seattle '89 was the best concert ever. I changed my mind.

[@murphyjones100]

man.. love that shot of Cliff between 2:52 and 2:56... so much grace and style. God Bless you Cliff. RIP.

[@wanik4]

It's going to be quite the mind fuck to see these guys when they are like 80 and 90 years old. Not ready for that quite yet.

[@NICKWAPPERER117]

wanik4 I know exactly what you mean. It will happen naturally so it won’t be super startling....but looking back like we are here is gonna be so fucking sad. It already kind of is

[@onlysanepersonleft]

Best version of this song

[@Cooldudeandres]

Seeing bands in their PRIME is one of the most beautiful things ever

[@lesterksi4521]

The metallica full of energy, passion, pride, their best period yet

[@samuelvelez1643]

This Metallica line-up is my favorite

[@ali965]

cliff’s bass shines throughout the whole performance. that’s damn enough to make a grown man cry. what a performance this is.

[@sdmingos]

James 's voice is still just like on the album

[@FinnProp]

I was listening to this back in the 2007 and pondering of a suicide, but the beauty of the song kept me going.

[@monicatamayo5904]

On the same boat there buddy

[@fever_spike]

Matti Olkinuora Glad they were able to give you the strength you needed, man...God bless you. Stay strong.

[@markhinchcliffe5803]

Bye then

[@danielfuksa4485]

what a pitty

[@pablobernardetti5353]

On the same!

[@mrlynnwood01]

cool how you can hear the bass.

[@Peter_1986]

Okay let's be honest, Lars was freaking awesome here.

[@sarahhernandez631]

This song helps me get thru hard times in life. I cry it out even if I feel sad. Being sad sucks but part of this ugly world. Metallica is the best

[@alejandromolina7461]

1:07 James trying to headbang to a ballad clean riff is just so cute :)

[@Peter_1986]

The interludes and the ending solo are dramatic enough to work really well with headbanging.

[@ijw7801]

Who can write a song this good at that age?

[@russkate88]

No one I know.

[@astroxl1609]

James Hetfield Pre Mustache = Best Hetfield in my opinion

[@ArronP]

throughout the entire set the crowd was screaming cliff. would of loved to be there. 01:45 there's a guy all the way at the bottom of the screen and he's headbanging but then he lifts his head up to look towards the camera. idk from the first few times of watching cliff 'em all I said look it's Dave Mustaine!! haha it's not but it reminds me of him 04:57 seeing cliff play in that moment is super cool. lots of fills added

[@ninjadog9346]

Epic head banging in this performance! Ah the good ol' days.

[@Beiskraft]

after listening this for many years, every song thousands of times we now bitch about Metallica. But imagine when this came out or you first heard it. It was something so original, heavy and amazing. Metallicaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hootertexas9711]

I remember.

[@gokhancabuk6001]

Absolutely Best version ever

[@princeoftherodeo5325]

Happy to be 50+ and to have attended to this tour! Metallica was our Nirvana.

[@CWheelz-oc7rl]

Nirvana was our Metallica but lol I love them both so much

[@coffeecrona1099]

James- I CANT FUCKING HEAR YOUUUU (Screams) James- mmmmmehehehehe

[@user-qw8yw6sf9w]

For me - metallica changed history. Fade to black their best. Their child their beast. This song saved me from myself tons of times. Metallica for life

[@JdgIncorporated]

God. They are the true gods of early thrash/heavy metal. Period.

[@cliffburtonnkardesiyim3725]

Cliff’s melodic bass lines , Kirk’s excellent solo’ s , James’s neat (!) vocals and Lars’s overly loud snares (as usual) this song is epic in every single aspect. Those people witnessed the best moments in the entire metal music history

[@fumezfury9755]

Say what ever you want but Lars kicked ASSSS!!!!!!

[@randybeans1984]

4:45 that's what a metal band looks like! R.i.p cliff 🤘

[@ReeceyBoy_4]

This song is absolutely perfect

[@OmerC2]

Cliff Cliff Cliff !!!

[@jorcormy9165]

aynen ya

[@josephcook1904]

2:18 In one second, what makes Cliff so good. Listen to the sound as he slaps his bass. Never seen a bassist before or after work it like this....

[@mikedixon8830]

I came to see Cliff

[@allenbass5131]

lars was damn good back in the day

[@JulesD92]

Allen Bass

[@TheRealEricMitchell]

Julian Duepre

[@isidrodro]

The Real Eric Mitchell

[@DanielTests]

The Aweon8or

[@randommetalhead7]

Dax Bradshaw

[@davidmartinez2510]

This is the metallica that we love and remember with Cliff Burton

[@salahbenchakren5738]

What a crowd's no camera 📸 no iPhone 🎥😅😋🤘🤘🤟

[@hetfieldprophet]

This was the era I was falling in love with Metallica. When Cliff 'Em All came out I had this song on repeat until the tape broke. A teenager I was in love with that lady singing on top of the crowd 1:39. Metallica has stood the test of time and weathered a lot of diversity. Continuing to put out relavent music instead of touring on their backlog. They are THE biggest band in the world and still going! R.I.P. Cliff, love you Metallica!!!

[@islanderking4974]

Lars gets some heat these days, but IMO he is doing a great performance here. Lots of feeling but still perfect timing.

[@deathdevils6050]

The best time of Metallica! They were complete! The way it should be and always should have been!

[@maksimumbtn1590]

Fade to black, is very strong metal

[@alejandracorredoira4426]

Al ver a Cliff me dan mucha nostalgia,fue uno de el mejor bajistas q tuvo Metallica!!

[@user-to3bs9ik8b]

The sound of Kirk's guitar is perfect for FTB

[@leandrofernandez8000]

Escuché y ví esta canción a los 16 años, me trae muchos recuerdos,. Es y será para mí una de las mejores canciones de la historia en la música pesada.

[@jerseydevil1066]

Notice how they were the heaviest of heavy metal and not a single tattoo on any of them. I personally like Tattoos and have some but they were different in every way.

[@codeystaples3826]

Cliff had a misfit skull on his arm

[@Reyon2099]

Jersey Devil They also got tattoos later on, especially James

[@waxlthegreat]

not a single iphn

[@TheJTcreate]

A lot of Rockers back then didn't have Tattoos. I'm more impressed they were just a beer band and not doping down on nasty shit.

[@jerseydevil1066]

Really? No Sh!t and James regrets them.

[@ME-th1bp]

Nadie como Kirk...hasta se me pone la piel de gallina sólo de verlo tocar, con esa pasión y gusto de hacerlo...verdaderamente un grande!!

[@METALOPURA55]

2:07 I love how Someone throws a flaming ball onstage and Kirk is just like whatever and puts it out

[@chitog5034]

im 24 and i wish i was fucking there… so sick seeing that they were in their early 20s in this video, and majority or maybe the entire audience are also all in their 20s. so rad, wish we had that vibe now. metal forever ❤️ people who saw Cliff live are the luckiest in the world

[@duindorp47]

This is my Metallica ❤️ Indeed no phones in the audience, people fully into the total atmosphere and enjoying the moment. No memories to post on social media but memories in the heart. Im proud to be a fan from the first generation. Must admit that i was a bigger fan up to the black album than i am now..😇 but still, the old stuff ❤️❤️❤️

[@bibusfromUkraine]

this bass is like thunder. amazing times

[@MLMetal516]

when metallica was metallica \m/ lost years

[@lefterisdask1736]

MiSaNTrop0 86 tf you mean bro

[@alejandromolina7461]

I don't think they've changed the band's name...

[@leventeronai3583]

Really? What is the difference now? They make the best guitar riffs and harmonies. Are they older? Of course they are. They get better and better with every year.

[@johncodee9175]

So true!! 🤘

[@F150fx2sporT]

MiSaNTrop0 86 you’re stupid if you think Metallica changed. They’ve always been the same 🔥

[@bandolierboy1908]

1985. A year I will forever wish I was age 21 in. Being 21 in 2022 sucks. I would've felt at home in the 80's

[@poopypants8704]

1:22 HIS LITTLE SMIRK WHEN HE LOOKS INTO THE CROWD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SONG STARTED AND SEES ALL THE LIGHTERS AND STUFF IS JUST TOO CUTE I CANT-

[@motorcitydolls2194]

Still watching this. Such a beautiful song and so relevant today! Love you guys ♥️

[@HCH8598]

No hay duda de que esta fue la mejor formación de Metallica: James Hetfield (Voz principal, guitarra rítmica) Lars Ulrich (Batería), Kirk Hammett (Guitarra líder, coros) y Cliff Burton (Bajo, coros).

[@DAVIDMIGUELANGEL1970]

totalmente de acuerdo y la mejor epoca del metal,siempre me gusto sobre todo la epoca donde usaban esas baterias y apenas se le veian las baquetas moviendose sin verse las manos,que epoca

[@Tjmo]

The fact that they were selling out venues since their first year, and are now still the biggest metal band in the world, is amazing. Long live Metallica!! See you in August 🤘🏼

[@MegaBillWood]

CLIFF GOING F’N OFF!!!!

[@sightaylor8502]

kurt puts his heart and soul into the outro solo in this song... its one of his best solos

[@arashghiamipour5588]

Ok who's kurt.

[@josi8569]

@@arashghiamipour5588 Kurt Cobain lead guitar of tallica

[@arashghiamipour5588]

@@josi8569 wow. Thought he meant kirk hammet of nirvana

[@josi8569]

@@arashghiamipour5588 yeah it's pretty confusing I know

[@jhonjairozuluagavargas714]

My Metallica

[@hashemalfalah265]

This song feels so calm and heavy at the same time. I love it ❤

[@gennadydomnenko6639]

I'm 56 years old., and I think American and English rock are the best of the world. I'm Russian

[@Dhaypher]

Pucha, lastima que murió cliff, ese hombre era único, como metálica. Únicos. Muy buenos estos weones.

[@bertzerk9534]

James seems a little insecure about his vocals here

[@TheRealEricMitchell]

Bertzerk He was. They were looking for a new vocalist till Master of Puppets was released. That's when James realized he has an amazing voice.

[@bandolierboy1908]

James was very insecure about a lot of things back then. He was super shy, quiet, and introverted. Also having to sing a song that was considered taboo among the metal crowd back then must’ve been a nerve-racking thing to do.

[@bandolierboy1908]

God I made that comment sound good.

[@gabrielherrera6651]

he was only 21 - 22

[@juanantoniocarmonacamacho3344]

@@bandolierboy1908 yeah but at same time he was a dick, he hasn't respect and he was burping all the time... Watch this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKencmRneJuNoNU but he is and was a good person

[@robertcliffe9803]

What I would give to be born in the 70s and live through the 80s where music was ACTUAL MUSIC, and not the crap we have today. No fake audio, actual instruments (how music should be presented). Cliff was a killer on the bass and James and Kirk harmonizing together along with Lars getting busy on the kit with the drum fills. You can't get much better than this!!!!! RIP Cliff and keep doin ur thing Metallica!

[@russkate88]

I was born in 1977, so still too young to have seen this, but the eighties were the best decade in history.

[@davidpark905]

The guitar tone for this show is so raw and perfect.

[@antho9315]

Kirk play perfectlly the solo !!!! Badasss

[@roncriswell2685]

James Hetfeild is the greatest front man of all time\m/

[@snappedaway5995]

To me, Freddie Mercury is the best one. But I can't deny that James is awesome too!

[@BONNOVOX]

No cell phones just people enjoying the greatest of all time

[@megahippi7661]

Metal Hammer Festival Germany with Nazareth, Venom, Wishbone Ash, Elvis Und Costello, Beer. I Was with my brother 25 years old and i was 16 years old my first Festival and the best of 27 Metallica Gig's. James Was the Metalgod, the best Band ever. Greetings from germany.... Martin

[@kenousti190]

Wow you're lucky