Leather Charm
Encyclopedia
Leather Charm was a short-lived American heavy metal
band from Downey, California
, noteworthy as a forerunner to the highly successful thrash metal
band Metallica
.
and guitarist Hugh Tanner's previous garage band, Phantom Lord. After Hetfield convinced his childhood friend and roommate Ron McGovney
to learn the bass, Leather Charm was born, with Hetfield focusing solely on vocals (as opposed to also playing rhythm guitar, as he had in Phantom Lord). Drummer Jim Mulligan was also involved with the group, and Tanner was later replaced by guitarist Troy James.
The group was influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
and practiced covers of songs by such bands of the period, including Diamond Head
and Sweet Savage
. They were also influenced by Iron Maiden
, and covered the song "Remember Tomorrow."
When Mulligan left the group in late 1981, Leather Charm disbanded and Hetfield began working with drummer Lars Ulrich
on a new project, Metallica. Early the next year, McGovney and guitarist Dave Mustaine
completed Metallica's first gigging lineup. The Leather Charm song "Hit the Lights" was integrated into the band's set, among the first original compositions in the band's repertoire, and eventually became the opening track on their debut LP, Kill 'Em All
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band from Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
, noteworthy as a forerunner to the highly successful thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
.
History
Leather Charm formed in June 1981 following the demise of James HetfieldJames Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
and guitarist Hugh Tanner's previous garage band, Phantom Lord. After Hetfield convinced his childhood friend and roommate Ron McGovney
Ron McGovney
Ron McGovney is a former American musician, best known as the original bassist in the heavy metal band Metallica.-Leather Charm and Metallica:...
to learn the bass, Leather Charm was born, with Hetfield focusing solely on vocals (as opposed to also playing rhythm guitar, as he had in Phantom Lord). Drummer Jim Mulligan was also involved with the group, and Tanner was later replaced by guitarist Troy James.
The group was influenced by the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
and practiced covers of songs by such bands of the period, including Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
and Sweet Savage
Sweet Savage
Sweet Savage are a metal band from Belfast, Northern Ireland, formed in 1979. The band once included former Dio and Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell...
. They were also influenced by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, and covered the song "Remember Tomorrow."
When Mulligan left the group in late 1981, Leather Charm disbanded and Hetfield began working with drummer Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...
on a new project, Metallica. Early the next year, McGovney and guitarist Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
completed Metallica's first gigging lineup. The Leather Charm song "Hit the Lights" was integrated into the band's set, among the first original compositions in the band's repertoire, and eventually became the opening track on their debut LP, Kill 'Em All
Kill 'Em All
Kill 'Em All is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released on July 25, 1983. Since its release, it has been certified 3x platinum by the RIAA, having sold over 3 million copies in the United States alone.-Music:...
.