Metallica - an alternate timeline beginning 1988

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let us speculate on what might have happened had things broken a little differently.

February 20th, 1989: The metal world is shocked when news breaks that Kristen Martinez, girlfriend of James Hetfield, was found murdered in her friend's apartment. Suspicion was immediately cast on the frontman, who was reported as "defiant" and "non-cooperative" by local authorities. Still, those close to him gave a different description - one of despondence. An anonymous source was quoted as saying Hetfield was on the "verge of a breakdown".

February 21st, 1989: James Hetfield is brought in for a second round of interrogation, but no charges are filed, and he is released. He is not under arrest at this time. The 1989 Grammy Awards subsequently removes Metallica from the bill. Rumors of turmoil within the band surface, as Jason Newsted is quoted as allegedly saying "this is not what I fucking signed up for!", apparently upset at also being questioned by authorities as to some key details about James's recent whereabouts.

February 22nd, 1989: The Grammys go on, sans Metallica. Lars reportedly destroys a television set in frustration at the missed opportunity. Detectives are seen at James Hetfield's apartment, with a search warrant obtaining evidence. Jason Newsted shocks the band by tendering his immediate resignation. The remainder of the Damaged Justice tour, which was set to resume in Fayetteville, NC, just three days later, is cancelled.

February 23rd, 1989: The metal world is stunned when James Hetfield is reportedly arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Kristen Martinez, a charge he vehemently denies. The band goes on immediate hiatus, which will last two years.

April 5th, 1990: A stunning development occurs as DNA evidence, somewhat new at the time, implicates a different suspect in the Martinez murder. Rumors of a third party confession abound.

May 7th, 1990: All charges against Hetfield are dropped, and a different person, noted Metallica superfan/stalker Fenton Pemberton, is arrested for the murder.

July 10th, 1990: Hetfield, full of anger, and grief, asks the band to reconvene, so he can channel his newfound rage into song. The search for a new bass player begins. Jason Newsted calls Hetfield to apologize for not being more supportive. Hetfield tells him to "suck his mother's dick and die" before hanging up. Newsted famously titles a song exactly this on one of his solo projects years later.

August 5th, 1990: Steve DiGiorgio, of Autopsy/Sadus fame, is announced as the new bass player, after a long audition process. The band ends its hiatus and begins recording their fifth studio album soon thereafter.

(the rest, my friends...is up to you!)

Neanderthal, Saturday, 5 November 2016 13:29 (eight years ago)

August 10th, 1990: The studio blows up, killing the entire band and bringing this thread to a premature end

more fun than an Acclaimed Music poll (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 5 November 2016 13:31 (eight years ago)

first response HOF blah blah moving on

Neanderthal, Saturday, 5 November 2016 13:32 (eight years ago)

you seem to have spent an awful lot of time thinking about Kristen Martinez's death, that's a bit disturbing

akm, Saturday, 5 November 2016 16:43 (eight years ago)

Yeah, this could have been a fun idea, but your chosen starting point was so ugly that frankly I want no part of this shit.

Don Van Gorp, midwest regional VP, marketing (誤訳侮辱), Saturday, 5 November 2016 16:55 (eight years ago)

https://twitter.com/fanfiction_txt/status/621381209453539328

Whiney G. Weingarten, Saturday, 5 November 2016 17:01 (eight years ago)

I seriously thought this was going to be a 'what if Cliff never died' starting point, and then I read the first post and what the hell.

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 5 November 2016 18:46 (eight years ago)

is it not the point that one expects 'what if Cliff never died' only to read something else entirely

brimstead, Saturday, 5 November 2016 19:50 (eight years ago)

https://twitter.com/fanfiction_txt/status/621381209453539328

― Whiney G. Weingarten, Saturday, November 5, 2016 10:01 AM (two hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this thread is obviously a parody of fan fiction but whatever

not saying i 'like it' or whatever

brimstead, Saturday, 5 November 2016 19:51 (eight years ago)

In one of the Gospels Jesus didn’t just turn over the tables, he indeed used a whip. Do your own homework. This does not mean Jesus wasn’t a pacifist, it means he had EMOTIONS. He got angry when it was “righteous”. He got sad and bled tears of blood, when it was understandable. We have been programmed to believe that we cannot have “righteous indignation” and I believe that is completely untrue.

If you feel you do not agree with me, then “let every man seek his salvation with fear and trembling” okay?

brimstead, Saturday, 5 November 2016 19:53 (eight years ago)

A Sign from the Lord

All of a sudden, a young man from a table behind me yelled out. He said “Hey you know about Planet X and Nibiru God Bless You! I jumped up from my table and ran to give him a big Jesus Hug! We exchanged phone numbers. I could not believe the timing.

Shortly thereafter another friend stopped by and said what’s going on with this weird end of the world situation. We witnessed to eachother in front of this mean fellow and all was “supernatural” as I would expect from my God.

THEN a man named Craig from Homeland Security stopped by my table and said that he was interested in understanding the news that was coming in about March 15th and this supposed “pole shift”. We talked openly and others chimed in.

The Same Old Disrespectful Snot

After this amazing and supernatural exchange of information and hugs on the porch, this unfortunate man in his disrespect for our King, continued to denigrate the Kingdom with his nasty mouth.

While I am not proud of what I said, and asked forgiveness of my King, after 2 hours of trying to reason with this “fellow” I simply told him that …

He is F*cked if He does Not Repent to Jesus Christ Immediately

Am I sorry for using the F bomb on this man? Yes! But sometimes you have no choice but to speak the language they understand. It might be the only words they comprehend.

brimstead, Saturday, 5 November 2016 19:55 (eight years ago)

It's actually interesting to consider an alternate path where they hadn't gone down the road of streamlined rock, but made Pantera's move instead: hybrid hardcore/thrash.

Siegbran, Saturday, 5 November 2016 19:56 (eight years ago)

I mean all the ingredients were there, similar levels of technical ability, they did HC covers before, same generation/age.

Siegbran, Saturday, 5 November 2016 20:00 (eight years ago)


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