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The Day Dave Mustaine Punched James Hetfield from Metallica – Screamin’ Scott

Screamin' Scott September 23rd, 2022
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: DAve Mustaine of Megadeath performs at Ozzfest at the Manuel Amphitheater on September 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for ABA)

Some of rock’s greatest rivalries have come to blows. Some of the famous fisticuffs include Chris and Rich Robinson for The Black Crowes, the Gallagher brothers from Oasis, and the band members of Poison and Motley Crue, all except Mick Mars, who they would be afraid he would fall into a million pieces if he fell over. Nothing beats the rivalry that included the days when Dave Mustaine was a member of Metallica. As the story was told, they gave Dave his walking papers and a bus ticket and said goodbye. This story includes a studio and a dog and a fight between Dave and James.

Dave Mustaine says he was "dumb" to punch James Hetfield when he was in Metallica

Dave Mustaine has regrets from his tumultuous days in Metallica. In particular, the thrash metal icon recently spoke about one incident where he claimed he punched James Hetfield "dumb". In a new fan Q&A with Revolver, Mustaine commented on the viral video of Hetfield telling the audience at Metallica's show in Belo Horizonte, Brazil that he was struggling with insecurities before receiving a group hug from his bandmates.

'Metallica' & The 9 Other Best-Selling Albums During the SoundScan Era

Metallica released their self-titled fifth studio album on August 12, 1991. Affectionately known as “The Black Album,” the LP became a game-changer for the band. It also had a massive impact on the music industry at large thanks to the game-changing technology then known as SoundScan, which premiered on March 1, 1991.

Per a feature piece from Billboard, “SoundScan, which is now known as MRC Data, measured album sales as they happened — stores scanned bar codes at the checkout register — and over the next few months [after its launch] it upended the conventional music business wisdom about what sold, as well as when and how. It revealed the popularity of several genres — alternative rock, country, hip-hop, harder metal — that had been seen as commercially marginal compared to bread-and-butter pop-rock bands.”

Basically, SoundScan provided real-time data of what was actually selling at record stores and other retailers, and it has provided proof of Metallica’s popularity.

How popular are the metal icons? “The Black Album” is the biggest selling record in the United States since the launch of SoundScan.

Metallica, however, has some very unique company on the list of the biggest selling albums of the SoundScan era. Scroll through the gallery below to see which titles join them in the top ten.

Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for over 29 years with 26 at WRIF and 3 years as a morning show host at Z-Rock. When he’s not out on the streets, you can find him in his game room, where he collects jukeboxes and classic pinball machines. Screamin also devotes time doing local charities with his, "Screamin Angels"; and for 15 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. “CHIT” is his local cover band for 10 years all over the Motor City in local bars and has graced the main stage at local festivals like Arts, Beats & Eats warming up for national acts like Cheap Trick, Guess Who & even Salt & Peppa. Screamin’ is the lead singer and also plays cowbell & lead triangle