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Metallica Reach Number One With 'St. Anger' Nine Years Ago

2003 - Metallica Hit #1 With 'St. Anger'
2003 - Metallica Hit #1 With 'St. Anger'

Metallica hit the top of the Billboard 200 chart with their eighth studio release, “St. Anger,” on June 15, 2003. The album followed 1997’s “ReLoad” and features singles “Frantic,” “The Unnamed Feeling” and “Some Kind of Monster,” in addition to the title track.

When the album hit number one, it claimed the top spot from “How the West Was Won” by Led Zeppelin. The metal giants held on at number one through June 21, 2003 when “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross hit the top of the chart.

The album’s title track was reportedly inspired by James Hetfield’s struggle with alcoholism, and about discovering new ways to vent his anger. To promote the album, the band gave a live performance at California’s San Quentin Prison. A video of the performance was later release by MTV.