One of the perks of being one of the richest bands in rock means that if you want to, you can buy back your masters from the labels that own them, then start your own label. Once you do that, you’re free to start reissuing said albums. That’s what Metallica did, and while we’re still waiting for a proper follow- up to Death Magnetic, 2015 will see the re-release of the band’s first two albums, Kill ‘Em All and Ride the Lightning. In a posting on their website, the band asked longtime fans for any fan-shot footage, photos, flyers, and anything else from that era for inclusion in the reissues. Here’s what the post says:
A little over two months ago we reached out to you for your assistance with the definitive Master of Puppets book that author Matt Taylor is assembling and you came through in a very big way – thank you!! We’re back again hoping you can dip into your personal archives and find some gems from the Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lightning eras as we prep deluxe remastered versions of those two albums coming in 2015.
We want it all! Did you manage to sneak a video camera into a show long before they fit in your pocket? Maybe your old instamatic camera for some snap shots? A cassette Walkman with a microphone? We’re looking for anything and everything… audio, video, photos, fliers, ticket stubs, the set list you picked up off the floor, and in general any mementos you may have from that around that time. Make your mark on these albums by e-mailing us at submissions@metclub.com to share your story and receive more info about submitting photos, videos, audio recordings and other mementos. Remember, we want everything (well, everything that’s yours)! Nothing is too small or too trivial… share your archives with your fellow fans and have some fun with us walking down memory lane. By submitting it, you’re saying we can use it should your piece of history land on a release (yes, the lawyers made us add this part!).
So your piece of history could wind up on a reissue, and you’ll get, well, maybe your name in a reissue of one of your favorite albums.
