Former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney recently shared details about the band’s early days. He revealed how a singer briefly rehearsed with the group but never performed with them, in a response posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The revelation came after a Metallica fan asked McGovney about the band’s early shows. The fan specifically mentioned venues in Yucaipa and wondered if he remembered playing at the Woodstock.
“We opened for Y&T at the Woodstock in 1982,” McGovney responded. “Sammy DeJohn from Ruthless practiced with us at my house in Norwalk for about 3 weeks. James decided to sing again, so Sammy was out.”
The comment sheds light on a brief period in Metallica’s early history when James Hetfield temporarily stepped back from vocal duties. This allowed another singer to rehearse with the band before ultimately returning to his dual role as guitarist and vocalist.
This story provides rare insight into Metallica’s formative years, when the band was still experimenting with their lineup and sound. McGovney’s recollection highlights the fluid nature of early metal bands as they searched for their identity.
The Nwothm reported that Ron McGovney co-founded Metallica and played bass from the band’s 1981 inception until leaving in early 1983. His departure came before the band recorded their breakthrough debut album “Kill ‘Em All.” This makes his memories of these early rehearsals particularly valuable for understanding Metallica’s evolution.
The singer who briefly practiced with Metallica, Sammy DeJohn, went on to establish himself in the Los Angeles metal scene. Reigning Phoenix Music noted that DeJohn founded the heavy/power metal band Ruthless in 1982, the same year he rehearsed with Metallica. The band has remained active for decades under his leadership, staying true to their aggressive metal sound.
McGovney’s story also reflects James Hetfield’s early reluctance to handle lead vocals. This hesitation nearly changed Metallica’s trajectory. Angry Metal Guy documented that Hetfield initially focused more on guitar work before developing the powerful vocal style that would become synonymous with Metallica’s sound through their first demos and recordings.
The brief collaboration between DeJohn and Metallica represents one of metal history’s “what if” moments. It shows how different the genre’s landscape might have been if Hetfield had permanently stepped away from the microphone during those crucial early days.
