Paul Stanley on Metallica “A worldwide phenomenon”

Guitarist and vocalist of Kiss – Paul Stanley praises Metallica and calls The Black Album “A worldwide phenomenon”.

Metallica’s self titled 1991 album (Also known as The Black Album) turns 30 years old this year. A bunch of musos have been praising the band, including Paul Stanley.

Stanley had a convo with Classic Rock Magazine, he speaks about how boys from Kiss became big Metallica fans when the Black Album came out.

“How could you not be a Metallica fan?” he asks. “Eric Carr [former Kiss drummer, who died in 1991] was the one that brought Metallica into our realm, and he did that quite a bit earlier, in the early, early days of Metallica. But in terms of becoming a worldwide phenomenon, I would have to say the Black Album was what did that. “

He continues “Enter Sandman – that song really flicked a switch, it changed something. It retained the grit, the passion and the rawness of what they had done until that point, but it managed to package it in a way that had a more widespread appeal. It wasn’t a coincidence that Bob Rock produced that album. He became the go-to guy for bringing out the most commercial aspect of a band’s sound, whether we are talking Metallica or The Cult.” 

“But the most important thing when you are a band or a creative person is to do what you want. Kudos to Metallica for that. Where they’ve gone since the Black Album, and factoring in their beginnings, is nothing less than amazing. Their appeal became massive, in capital letters, because it crossed boundaries. That’s always a great plus.”

Also Kirk Hammett opens up about his friendship with the great Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. In particular the success of the Black Album and the impact it had on Nirvana and bands alike.

“Kurt Cobain came to one of our shows in Seattle, on the Black Album tour,” he tells Classic Rock’s Dave Everley. “I knew Kurt kind of well, and I hung out with him quite a bit. He was a pretty big Metallica fan. I was surprised at how much of a Metallica fan he was.

“Rock radio embracing our sound – our heaviness – helped the whole grunge thing take hold. Not long after the Black Album came out, Nirvana put out Nevermind. I like to think we had something to do with the acceptance of Nirvana.”

Speaking on the impact on the album Hammett says: “It’s a cultural force in itself. As much as modern culture changes and morphs, there’s something within that album that continues to resonate around the world. 

“And I mean the world, because it’s big everywhere.”

The Metallica Blacklist is out 10th September. The album celebrates the enduring influence of Metallica with an over 50 artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, cultures, continents and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favourite Black Album cut. All profits will be donated to charities of each contributing artist’s choice along with Metallica’s own foundation, All Within My Hands.