Enter Sandman

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Enter Sandman" by Metallica from their 1991 self-titled album, and Zoo Freaks, this track’s got some wild stories behind it. The song’s iconic riff came to life when guitarist Kirk Hammett was up at 2 or 3 a.m., inspired by Soundgarden’s 1989 album Louder Than Love. Hammett told Revolver he picked up his guitar, and that riff just poured out. Drummer Lars Ulrich suggested tweaking it, playing the first bar three times before ending with the second, giving it that catchy hook. Funnily enough, Hammett later revealed on Professor of Rock that the riff was also influenced by Ice-T’s sampling of Heart’s “Magic Man” in his 1988 track “Personal,” showing how metal, grunge, and hip-hop vibes collided to shape this anthem.

Another juicy tidbit: James Hetfield’s original lyrics were dark, focusing on sudden infant death syndrome with the line “Disrupt the perfect family” instead of “Off to never never land.” Ulrich and producer Bob Rock pushed back, feeling it was too heavy, as noted in a 2007 Uncut interview. Hetfield was initially pissed but reworked it into the nightmare-themed lullaby we know, blending creepy bedtime prayers like “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” with lines about beasts under the bed. The song took ten days to mix, with engineer Randy Staub using 40 to 50 mics to capture the “wall of guitars” Hetfield described, per American Songwriter. Oh, and Zoo Freaks, this track’s got sports cred too—it was the entrance music for legendary Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, cementing its “lights out” vibe at Yankee Stadium, as Metallica Wiki points out.

Metallica started in 1981 in Los Angeles when Danish drummer Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a local paper, answered by singer and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield. Both were just 17, bonding over a shared love for obscure metal bands like Diamond Head and Motörhead, as detailed on Britannica. Ulrich, who’d moved to the U.S. to pursue tennis, ditched sports for music, while Hetfield, a shy kid from a strict Christian Science family, found his voice through metal. They recruited lead guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney, though Mustaine was later replaced by Kirk Hammett, and Cliff Burton took over on bass. Their early days were raw, playing sweaty clubs and releasing demos like “Hit the Lights” on 1982’s Metal Massacre compilation. By 1983, their debut album Kill ‘Em All kicked off the thrash metal wave, blending punk’s speed with metal’s heaviness, earning them a cult following.

Zoo Freaks can dive deeper into Metallica’s world at their official website, packed with tour dates, news, and merch. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates straight from the band. Fans also run some killer sites like Metallica Wiki, a treasure trove of song details and history. For community vibes, check out the Metallica Family Facebook group, where fans swap stories, memes, and concert plans. So, keep those dials locked on THE ZOO, and let “Enter Sandman” take you to never never land!