"Fade to Black" is a song by thrash metal band Metallica from their second album, Ride the Lightning (1984). It was the first musical ballad released by the band. It was ranked as having the 24th best guitar solo ever by Guitar World magazine readers.[1]
| "Fade to Black" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
Background
In an interview with drummer Lars Ulrich on the set of the production "MTV Icon: Metallica" in 2005, he recalls how he and bandmate James Hetfield were obsessed with death at the time the album and song were produced. It was written after almost all of their equipment, including a very rare amplifier, given to singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield by his mother just before she died, was stolen in Boston, MA, following a gig at the Channel Club on 14th January 1984. This event forced Metallica to borrow equipment from fellow tour band and friends, Anthrax, for the remainder of the tour. The lyrics suggest a man contemplating, then eventually committing suicide.
It begins with an acoustic guitar introduction and becomes progressively heavier as the song goes on.
At the time, some of the more extreme elements of fans deemed the song a "sell out" as it was such a departure from Metallica's then-normal style[citation needed], but they went on to release three more similar ballads on Master of Puppets, ...And Justice for All, and Metallica. Since its release, "Fade to Black" has been a fan favorite and a fixture in Metallica's live performances. It was also the last song that Metallica performed live with former bassist Jason Newsted. Jason's last gig was at the VH1 Music Awards on November 30, 2000. It was one of Newsted's favorite Metallica songs, and was said to be of great sentimental value to him, although it had been written before he had joined the band. Jason Newsted's old band, Flotsam And Jetsam, performed a song called "Fade To Black" on their 1986 album Doomsday For The Deceiver before Jason left to join Metallica, although it bears little to no resemblance to the Metallica version.
Metallica was playing the intro of this song during their concert at Montreal's Olympic Stadium in 1992, when James Hetfield suffered second and third-degree burns from a pyrotechnic accident.
The song's title is never mentioned in the lyrics. However, the song's title is mentioned in the track "The Memory Remains" on the band's 1997 album, ReLoad.
Tracklist (Promo only)
Side A:
- "Fade to Black" (06:56)
Covers
- Disturbed on their live album Music as a Weapon II, but without the heavier second half of the song
- Apoptygma Berzerk on their studio album Welcome to Earth
- Apocalyptica on their album Inquisition Symphony
- Boy Sets Fire on Crush 'Em All Vol. 1, a two song split EP w/ Shai Hulud
- Sonata Arctica on Victoria's Secret and Takatalvi
- The harp tribute duo Harptallica on their album Harptallica: A Tribute
In 1996, Norwegian metal band Dimmu Borgir released "Master of Disharmony" on their EP Devil's Path (1996), the song contains 30 seconds of the last riffs / solo of "Fade to Black" as last bridge.