CLEVELAND - Metallica, a heavy-metal machine whose menacing sound has inspired headbangers for nearly three decades, is detouring from its latest world tour for its biggest gig yet. Twenty-eight years after forming and having survived some of the darkness found in their raging music, the San Francisco-based band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday, headliners of an eclectic 2009 class.
"It's still somewhat surreal," singer-guitarist James Hetfield said. "The other part of it will be us kicking in the door a little bit. We've got a lot of other friends that we'd like to bring in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There's a lot of heavy music that belongs in there."
Metallica will be inducted along with rap pioneers Run-DMC, virtuoso guitarist Jeff Beck, soul singer Bobby Womack and rhythm and blues vocal group Little Anthony and the Imperials. Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson will be inducted as an early influence. Drummer DJ Fontana and the late bassist Bill Black - both of Elvis Presley's backup band - and keyboardist Spooner Oldham will enter in the sidemen category... Read more
