Metallica Release New Live Video of 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'

There aren't many bass riffs more iconic or recognizable than what Cliff Burton recorded for Ride the Lightning's "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Over the years, of course, the responsibility of that riff would be taken over by Jason Newsted and then Robert Trujillo, but regardless of who's plucking the strings, there is absolutely no denying the power and ferocity that envelops fans when the song kicks off.

This is obvious in Metallica's recent performance of the song in São Paulo, Brazil, on May 10, 2022, as tens of thousands of fans scream in approval of the song. You can check out the brand-new live video below.

Watch Metallica Perform "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in São Paulo

As legend has it, Burton wrote that intro riff long before he ever joined Metallica. In fact, his first performance of it was during a battle of the bands contest with the first band he was ever in, Agents of Misfortune.

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In fact, you can watch that battle of the bands performance below; Burton's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" riff starts around the 9:51 mark.

Over the last few decades, the song has become a staple in Metallica's live sets; the performance in São Paulo was the 1,513th time the band played it onstage. The first time "For Whom the Bell Tolls" saw the light of the stage was in New York City at the legendary Megaforce Records showcase put together by Marsha and Jonny Zazula; Anthrax and Raven were part of the show and it all went down on Aug. 3, 1984, at the Roseland Ballroom, just one week after Ride the Lightning hit the streets.

Some of Our Favorite Live Photos of Robert Trujillo

If you've ever seen Metallica live in the last 20 years, you know how much of a monster Robert Trujillo is onstage. From his signature helicopter spin to his barking vocals, Trujillo is a musician few can imitate. We could share thousands of photos of Trujillo doing what he does best, but we decided to trim it down to just a few of our favorites.

Sometimes in rock bands, you'll find the bassist is more subdued or prefers to stay away from the spotlight. With Trujillo, he commands the attention of the crowd—and often, the attention of his bandmates—and Metallica's live shows are better because of it.

Check out some of our favorite live shots of Trujillo below, going all the way back to when he first joined the band in 2003.

10 Things We Learned About Metallica from 'Some Kind of Monster'

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster made its debut Jan. 24, 2004, at the Sundance Film Festival. Today, it holds an impressive 89 percent rating with critics 83 percent rating with fans on Rotten Tomatoes. The documentary puts Metallica in a never-before-seen light as the band members opened themselves up in incredibly vulnerable ways. With each viewing, there are still new things fans—hardcore and new fans alike—can learn about one of the biggest bands in the history of rock 'n' roll.