‘The First 40 Years': New Metallica Black Box Exhibition Is Open For Fans

Metallica have been teasing fans about a new exhibition opening up online on MetallicaBlackBox.com, and the virtual doors are finally open.

Metallica: The First 40 Years is a massive treasure trove of bits and pieces from the band's history, covering ground from the naming of their band to Robert Trujillo joining the gang—and plenty more.

As the virtual exhibition explains, "Explore the first in a series of four retrospectives, as told through the band's personal archives. Look for more moments from the band's 40 years coming soon."

It's hard to pull out our favorite memorabilia from this collection, but here are some of our favorites.

European Tour, 1990

Longtime 'Tallica photographer Ross Halfin captured some one-of-a-kind shots of Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield between May 11-26, 1990, while the band played nine shows across Europe. There's nothing better than seeing Hetfield having fun backstage.

Click here for European Tour, 1990

St. Anger

Say what you will about St. Anger, but the album rocks; even more significant than the heaviness of the record is the fact that St. Anger will forever capture an important time in the history of Metallica. Obviously, it has a place in this exhibition.

Metallica have shared unused video treatment for the music video of "Frantic" and a handwritten note from, we think, Pushead about the colors of the album artwork.

Click here to see St. Anger

Naming the Band

We'll let the exhibition speak for itself: "In the Spring of 1981, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich were looking for a name for their newly formed band. Lars explains, 'I met a bunch of really cool San Francisco kids, one of them was named Ron [Quintana]. He told me he wanted to start his own fanzine...He asked me whether he should call the fanzine 'Metallica' or 'Metal Mania,' so I suggested that he call it 'Metal Mania.'"

The Metallica Black Box includes a photo of Lars Ulrich's notebook that contains a number of potential band names, including Blitzer and Phantomlörd.

Talk about a piece of metal history.

Click here to see Naming the Band

Metallimansion

This is amazing.

For a few years in the mid-'80s, Hetfield and Ulrich lived together in El Cerrito, California. This is where most of Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets were written. Metallica have shared an amazing photo of the band—including Cliff Burton—as well as a couple of hilarious shots of Ulrich and Hetfield.

Click here to see Metallimansion

Bay Area Music Awards, 1997

How about this? Metallica received four nominations for the Bay Area Music Awards in 1997 and they've shared the accompanying official certificates. Metallica ended up winning for "Outstanding Group."

Click here to see Bay Area Music Awards, 1997

Beyond the exhibition, Metallica have updated the online Black Box store with some incredible new offerings, including a print of the storyboard for the "I Disappear" music video, an Andy Warhol-inspired print of the band in honor of their 30th anniversary and an authentic plaque commemorating the multi-Platinum status of Master of Puppets.

Check those out below and see everything you can purchase here.

"I Disappear" Video Treatment

30 Year Anniversary Art Print

Master of Puppets Platinum Award

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