Following from the "Metal Forever" thread, I decided to expand on an idea I had for a music WI:
Most people tend to think that Dave Mustaine was the original lead guitarist of Metallica, but on their very first song, "No Life Till Leather", submitted on a small metal label in L.A., the band's lead guitarist is credited as Lloyd Grant, a local Jamaican musician who was friends with Lars Ulrich.
The reasons for Grant not becoming Metallica's lead guitarist are quite varied. Some say Metallica never gave him an official invite, while others say that Grant never felt comfortable being a black musician in an exclusively white (at the time) genre.
What if Lloyd Grant did join Metallica and become their lead guitarist? What would the implications be for Metallica? What would the implications be for heavy metal? Would Lloyd Grant be seen as a major inspiration to young black musicians who want to play in a heavy metal and/or hard rock band. Would Lloyd even be in the band to this day?
Most people tend to think that Dave Mustaine was the original lead guitarist of Metallica, but on their very first song, "No Life Till Leather", submitted on a small metal label in L.A., the band's lead guitarist is credited as Lloyd Grant, a local Jamaican musician who was friends with Lars Ulrich.
The reasons for Grant not becoming Metallica's lead guitarist are quite varied. Some say Metallica never gave him an official invite, while others say that Grant never felt comfortable being a black musician in an exclusively white (at the time) genre.
What if Lloyd Grant did join Metallica and become their lead guitarist? What would the implications be for Metallica? What would the implications be for heavy metal? Would Lloyd Grant be seen as a major inspiration to young black musicians who want to play in a heavy metal and/or hard rock band. Would Lloyd even be in the band to this day?