"Save Metallica" Petition Online

[FH]

'Save METALLICA' Petition Calls For Split With Longtime Producer BOB ROCK - Jan. 18, 2005

Source: Blabbermouth

Several "longtime loyal" fans of METALLICA have launched a petition to force a split between METALLICA and producer Bob Rock on the grounds that his "contributions" to the group's songwriting/recording process are "quite wrong and have been getting worse as time goes on." An open letter to METALLICA from the petitioners reads as follows:

"We, the longtime loyal fans and friends of METALLICA and their music, would like to see a major change with the upcoming album. I know it will be a hard thing to do, but we feel it is time to sever your working relationship with Bob Rock.

"Don't get us wrong, some of us like a few (very few) contributions Bob Rock has made to METALLICA. Unfortunately one thing we can all agree on is nothing has been the same since he joined the ranks as longtime METALLICA producer. We are not criticizing Bob Rock on his technical skills as he has mastered his sound. We just feel that his contributions to help craft a METALLICA song are quite wrong and have been getting worse as time goes on.

"From 'Kill 'Em All' through '…And Justice For All', the albums are timeless and we can listen to them over and over. Although Bob Rock's first producing effort with METALLICA, 'The Black Album', may have sold the most copies worldwide, it doesn't mean the album is the most musically pleasing. As much as we support METALLICA, most of us listen to the first few albums much more. The songs were simple and overproduced.

"'Load' and 'Reload' were examples of not having any control. The music was all over the place and Bob Rock went with the same sound plan as he has done for all of METALLICA's albums. We heard this sound yet again on the first disc of 'Garage Inc.' We have watched the videos of Bob Rock telling METALLICA horrible suggestions in the studios while we cringe knowing it is the wrong decision. Keep in mind, Bob Rock was in a band or two himself when he was younger. The reason no one knows this is because his bands failed because he cannot craft a good song let alone a help craft a good METALLICA song.

"Then we are left with 'St. Anger'. It is completely unlistenable and this is the album that Bob Rock had most of his influence. Not only in production but the songs are all a mess as well. Every song could be cut down by about 3-5 minutes simply by cutting out most of the repetition. Bob Rock didn't realize that repetition of one riff over and over for 10 minutes doesn't make a song a pleasingly structured song. The sound, as everyone can agree, did not break any musical barriers, it just made the album worse. Even Bob Rock can do better than this.

"We understand and appreciate the time and effort Bob Rock has put into METALLICA. By your own admission, you state METALLICA is a hard band to work with. We appreciate him being there to keep the band together at a personal low point of their career to help them carry on as a four-piece. But we feel the day has come.

"We are excited to hear the next studio album with the addition of masterful bassist Robert Trujillo. We hope it breathes new songwriting life into the band. All we ask is you take our suggestion seriously for the sake of the band and your fans. Please end your working relationship with Bob Rock</B> as producer and let's enter into a new phase for METALLICA."

To view and/or sign the petition, click here.

[Guitaristic]

they're trying to scapegoat bob rock

[Goport]

Metallicas first 3 lps were class, AJFA - left me feeling disappointed at the time but as a 4th lp it stands up well. I liked the 5th - the band showed real diversity and the production worked. What they have done since has not really interested me but at least they tried to develop as a band and not just peddle the same riffs and song blueprints. That is commendable.

If they reckon that bob rock has too much influence over the songs, then you have to wonder where the focus has gone. Losing the producer will not make the songs better. Making mettalica regress 15-20 years will not make then ground breaking. This is quite a stupid request. If fans question the bands judgement in producer, then they are questioning the bands ability IMO. What if they do get fresh blood and the next CD sucks even more than St Anger? who will they blame then?

[KC_ArtRocker]

Well, I don't have enough inside information to know for certain what degree of degrading influence that Bob Rock had on the evolution of the band, but I can tell you that I have the first 5 Metallica albums (had 'em on cassette and now I have them on CD as well), including the Garage Days EP, and I have not purchased any of their albums since the Black album (with the exception of the Gargage Days Re-re-re-visited double CD). It is hard to say what has caused their steady decline in quality, but it is very discouraging to me and I share these people's desire for Metallica to regress to some of their earlier roots.

[Goport]

Appreciate that pal, but IIRC St Anger was supposed to be a return to roots. It didn't work obviously.

[kudochop]

I can't believe there wasn't one solo and that album. Everything about it (St. Anger) sucked.

[The TikiBar]

I like St.Anger. It's a kick-ass metal record.

[ericgtr]

The fans balme Bob Rock because they don't like what Metallica is doing??

The band is doing whatever they want regardless of whether you have Bob Rock or Joe Blow influencing them, especially a band with the clout Metallica has. This to me seems totally ridiculous if the fans don't like it they should complain directly to the band.

[Goport]

I agree. Thats pretty much what I said too, eric.

[Scott Parnell]

Yes,, your'e so right Eric. In a guitar issue awhile back when reload came out,, Kirk said that the band wanted to go a new direction and steer away from the old style stuff they did. So it seems to me that the band wants to go their own direction and all the way they are. I mean,, to not put any solos on St. anger ,, they are showing they wanna be like today's Nu Metal. it's pretty sad that I bought the St. Anger cd and then gave it away to someone for nothing in return. I love Metallica, and to this day,, i'll still pop in Kill em' all or ride the Lightning now and then. you have to blame the direction they are going to the band itself!!,, not the producer. granted they did change when he came in,, but that's what the band wanted as a whole. Maybe the drop of sales in St. Anger and james cleaning himself up from alchaholic abuse will wise em up and make em think on making an album that will rock and sell!

[kudochop]

Originally Posted by ericgtr

The fans balme Bob Rock because they don't like what Metallica is doing??

The band is doing whatever they want regardless of whether you have Bob Rock or Joe Blow influencing them, especially a band with the clout Metallica has. This to me seems totally ridiculous if the fans don't like it they should complain directly to the band.

I agree... But you gotta admit they are capable of better music!

[ericgtr]

Originally Posted by kudochop

I agree... But you gotta admit they are capable of better music!

I admit that all the way

[Goport]

I admit they WERE capable of better music. If they are not creating better music now - Then it is only down to the band to sort that out. Bob Rock is merely a casual employee of the band and not a songwriter.

[Beka4MikE]

But they can still put their trust in his opinion which could ultimately lead to even worse material. I have all the albumns and regardless of who is there the music isn't going to get much better because I don't think Metallica wants it to because they know people will still buy it.

[skydog911]

I too am a diehard fan, I as well have not bought anything of theirs since the black album.....but blaming the producer is just stupid, if anyone is to blame it's james and lars,they are the ones steering that ship