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METALLICA's Lyrics Set The Beat At First Heavy Metal Music Auction

November 7, 2004

METALLICA fans paid higher than expected prices for the band's handwritten lyrics and original album cover artwork at the first major public auction of heavy metal music memorabilia. The sale was conducted by Julien Entertainment Saturday, November 6, at the Hard Rock Cafe on West 57th Street in New York City.

"Lyrics to the group's first album in 1983, 'Kill 'Em All', handwritten by METALLICA founder Lars Ulrich and early band member Cliff Burton, sold for $2,400 to more than $4,900 each. The pre-sale estimates ranged from $1,000 to $3,000 each," said auctioneer Darren Julien, President of Julien Entertainment of West Hollywood, California.

"There were a total of 16 different handwritten METALLICA lyrics, and they sold for a combined total of $48,600. Obviously, some fans were determined to buy historic keepsakes from the band," said Julien.

Buyers purchased about 90 auction lots of lyrics, artwork, documents and musical instruments from METALLICA, ANTHRAX and other heavy metal groups. Many of the METALLICA items were from the collection of Jon Zazula, founder of Megaforce Records.

The original album cover artwork for METALLICA's 1986 "Master of Puppets", estimated to sell for $5,000 to $7,000, was purchased for $19,200. The original artwork for the 1987 "Among the Living" album cover for the group ANTHRAX sold for $3,600, against a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 to $3,000.

The 1989 MTV Music Award presented to GUNS N' ROSES for best heavy metal video, "Sweet Child O' Mine", with a pre-sale estimate of $3,000 to $5,000, was sold for $14,400.

The auction generated more than $120,000 in winning bids. Names of the buyers were not revealed.

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