Fade to Black (Metallica song)
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other
"Fade to Black" is a song and the first power ballad by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released as the first promotional single from their second studio album, Ride the Lightning (1984). The song was ranked as having the 24th-best guitar solo ever by Guitar World readers.[1]
The song peaked at number 100 on Swiss Singles Chart in 2008.[2] The song is certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[3] In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Fade to Black" at number 35 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.[4]
Background and composition
In an interview on the set of the production MTV Icon: Metallica in 2003, drummer Lars Ulrich recalls how he and vocalist/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield were "obsessed with death" at the time the album and song were produced. Hetfield later admitted that a break-in to their gear truck resulting in the loss of his favorite Marshall amplifier also contributed to the mood of the song.[5]
The song's lyrics address suicidal feelings.[6] It begins with an acoustic guitar introduction and becomes progressively heavier as the song goes on, similar to their future songs, "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "One", and "The Day That Never Comes". James Hetfield commented on the song in a 1991 interview with Guitar World:
Template:Quote"Fade to Black" was released as a promotional single in 1984, through a phosphorescent green LP record.Template:Sfn
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from Ride The Lightning liner notes [7]
- James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
- Lars Ulrich – drums
- Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
- Cliff Burton – bass
Certifications
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
References
Sources
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedRIAA - ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Pages with script errors
- 1980s ballads
- 1984 singles
- 1984 songs
- Elektra Records singles
- Heavy metal ballads
- Megaforce Records singles
- Metallica songs
- Songs about death
- Songs about suicide
- Songs written by Cliff Burton
- Songs written by James Hetfield
- Songs written by Kirk Hammett
- Songs written by Lars Ulrich
- Pages with reference errors