Book Review: Metallica The $24.95 Book by Ben Apatoff

Metallica, likely the most famous heavy metal band ever if you consider the number of people who know that name who have never heard them. We all know their story… or do we.

The $24.95 Book (so named to ensure the price doesn’t go higher than the title) is an incredibly well written history of the band, told in chapters dedicated to each album, each band member and influences.  Each chapter tells a story instead of just rehashing dates and events like a calendar. There is passion and emotion in each sentence. Are there some “fanboy” moments going on? Yes, but would we want to read a biographical story telling of a band  by someone who didn’t like said band?  Note: While Dave Mustaine is certainly mentioned, he does not get a chapter to himself… perhaps this has always been the story of early Metallica. Dave had such a strong influence, but the metal world turned out for the better having both Metallica and Megadeth, so this reviewer thinks, in the end, we all won.. Dave included.

Regardless of your opinion of “did Metallica sell out” or “the band sucked ever since xyz album”, you must at least accept that Metallica shaped the world of metal and opened doors. This book tells the stories of each door opened, from album releases, events, fans, lineup changes and even background on the members.  Relevant background on members, mind you, stuff that shaped their lives and affected their music. You may be an “old school” fan who thinks this or that of the band, but this book tells you stories that allow you, fan or not, to understand and appreciate who Metallica is, and more importantly, WHAT Metallica is.

The structure of the book, broken into proper chapters, allows the reader to jump around if they want to. Those chapters that you think you would skip, (aka hated that album..) think again. Reading the passionate story behind that album may not make you like it musically, but you will walk away with a new understanding of what Metallica was all about at that time. This reviewer enjoyed skipping around the book following my own path to discovery as I read.

Even the die-hard super fans, who might already know “all the info in the book”, will enjoying reading and remembering where they were when they first heard a particular album or saw a particular tour. On top of that, there just be some nuggets of information or a different perspective on facts and details that will add to your understanding of Metallica as a whole.

The book also features some previously unpublished photos in the center. Those photos themselves are a wonderful trip through the history of Metallica. This reviewer is not normally impressed with band biographies, as they tend to not be written well, however with this book, I cannot stress enough how much fun “Metallica The $24.95 Book” is to read.