(R-L) San Francisco Mayor London Breed appears with Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo declaring Metallica Day during an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
Members of Metallica appeared with San Francisco Mayor London Breed Thursday at Chase Center to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary.
Drummer Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo joined the mayor and Another Planet Entertainment President Gregg Perloff for a press conference, with Breed declaring Thursday Metallica Day in a proclamation.
Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich appears for an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of Metallica at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
San Francisco Mayor London Breed appears with Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo and Another Planet Entertainment President Gregg Perloff for an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo speaks during an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
San Francisco Mayor London Breed raises a fist in a press conference for an official proclamation commemorating Metallica for 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
San Francisco Mayor London Breed appears in a press conference for an official proclamation commemorating Metallica for 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
San Francisco Mayor London Breed appears with Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo and Another Planet Entertainment President Gregg Perloff for an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
San Francisco Mayor London Breed walks onto the stage with Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo for an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
(R-L) San Francisco Mayor London Breed appears with Metallica drummer and co-founder Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo declaring Metallica Day during an official proclamation commemorating the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
Another Planet Entertainment President Gregg Perloff speaks during an official proclamation commemorating Metallica for the first 40 years of the influential group at Chase Arena in San Francisco, CA., on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Scot Tucker / SFBay.ca)
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The mayor said Metallica’s music has touched many generations and the band’s influence in The City and throughout the Bay Area:
When you talk about San Francisco, you talk about cable cars, and then you talk about your Metallica.”
Breed also noted that while the band is playing at Chase Center for two nights for its 40th anniversary Friday and Sunday, Metallica still plays at smaller venues in The City, like The Independent last September.
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs the National Anthem on Metallica Night as the Washington Nationals face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 23, 2018.
Chuck Billy of Testament looks on as Kirk Hammett plays the National Anthem on Metallica Night as the Washington Nationals face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 23, 2018.
Lars Ulrich, drummer and co-founder of Metallica poses with Lou Seal on Metallica Night as the Washington Nationals face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 23, 2018.
Kirk Hammett of Metallica rakes the field before the fourth inning on Metallica Night as the Washington Nationals face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 23, 2018.
Fans enjoy Metallica as they perform at the Outside Lands Music Festival at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
Metallica lead singer James Hetfield, right, and bassist Robert Trujillo take the field with the grounds crew after the third inning as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica lead singer James Hetfield and guitarist Kirk Hammett plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica lead singer James Hetfield plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica lead singer James Hetfield plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica lead singer James Hetfield plays the Star Spangled Banner as the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich stands on the field before the Chicago Cubs face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, August 7, 2017.
James Hetfield and Metallica top a 2017 Outside Lands lineup that includes headliners The Who, Lorde, and A Tribe Called Quest.
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett plays “Take me out the the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch as the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
(L-R) Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett perform the National Anthem before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
(L-R) Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett perform the National Anthem before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
(L-R) Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett perform the National Anthem before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich warms up for the ceremonial first pitch as the Angels starters stretch out before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants on Metallica Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo tosses the ball before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants on Metallica Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich take a photograph before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants on Metallica Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo talks with friends and family before the Los Angeles Angels face the San Francisco Giants on Metallica Day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
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While the group formed in 1981 in southern California, Urlich said he felt like that band didn’t belong in Los Angeles and that they felt like “complete outsiders.” It was not until the band performed at several venues in San Francisco that the band felt at home:
We were just embraced instantly. We felt so welcomed, so loved, and we finally felt like we belonged someplace.”
The press event at Chase Center was not just to declare Thursday Metallica Day, but it also to kick off a number of events that began Thursday night and will last through the weekend called Metallica San Francisco Takeover events.
Events include a Metallica Film Fest at the AMC Kabuki 8 on Saturday and parties by Blackened Whiskey, the whiskey company that Metallica has collaborated with to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary. Thursday night also kicked off a Metallica block party on Valencia Street between 15th and 17th Streets that started at 5 p.m. and will last until 10 p.m.
Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.