United Kingdom
OK I was quite surprised how many people want artist bios. So poll attached for where we should get this data
Currently these are scraped from allmusic.com but this is difficult to maintain (can break quite easily as it looks like has happened this week) and is only available in English. These are very in depth bios (possibly far too long) but good quality.
My plan was to start using last.fm for artist bios but they went and changed their API so you now only get the first 300 characters (but it is sometimes available in other languages)
Then you have TheAudioDb.com which basically has info copied and pasted from Wikipedia.
So taking Metallica as an example (tends to be well translated and fully populated).
allmusic.com
last.fm
and now last.fm in French
TheAudioDb.com
and again from TheAudioDb.Com but this time in Swedish
Currently these are scraped from allmusic.com but this is difficult to maintain (can break quite easily as it looks like has happened this week) and is only available in English. These are very in depth bios (possibly far too long) but good quality.
My plan was to start using last.fm for artist bios but they went and changed their API so you now only get the first 300 characters (but it is sometimes available in other languages)
Then you have TheAudioDb.com which basically has info copied and pasted from Wikipedia.
So taking Metallica as an example (tends to be well translated and fully populated).
allmusic.com
Metallica was easily the best, most influential heavy metal band of the '80s. Responsible for bringing the genre back to Earth, the bandmates looked and talked like they were from the street, shunning the usual rockstar games of metal musicians during the early '80s. Metallica also expanded the limits of thrash, using speed and volume not for their own sake, but to enhance their intricately structured compositions. The release of 1983's Kill 'Em All marked the beginning of the legitimization of heavy metal's underground, bringing new complexity and depth to thrash metal. With each album, the band's playing and writing improved; James Hetfield developed a signature rhythm playing that matched his growl, while lead guitarist Kirk Hammett became one of the most copied guitarists in metal. To complete the package, Lars Ulrich's thunderous (yet complex) drumming clicked in perfectly with Cliff Burton's innovative bass playing.
Master of Puppets After releasing their masterpiece Master of Puppets in 1986, tragedy struck the band when their tour bus crashed while traveling in Sweden. Burton died in the accident. When the band decided to continue, Jason Newsted was chosen to replace Burton; two years later, the band released the conceptually ambitious ...And Justice for All, which hit the Top Ten without any radio play and very little support from MTV. But Metallica completely crossed over into the mainstream with 1991's Metallica, a self-titled effort that found the band trading in their long compositions for more concise song structures. Peppered with hits like "Wherever I May Roam" and "Enter Sandman", it resulted in a number one album that sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. To support the record, Metallica launched a long tour that kept the musicians on the road for nearly two years.
Load By the '90s, Metallica had changed the rules for all heavy metal bands; they were the leaders of the genre, respected not only by headbangers, but by mainstream record buyers and critics. No other heavy metal band has ever been able to pull off such a feat. However, the group lost a portion of their core audience with their long-awaited follow-up to Metallica, 1996's Load. The album moved the band toward alternative rock in terms of image -- they cut their hair and had their picture taken by Anton Corbijn. Although the album was a hit upon its summer release, entering the charts at number one and selling three million copies within two months, certain members of their fanbase complained about the shift in image, as well as the group's decision to headline the sixth Lollapalooza. Re-Load, which combined new material with songs left off of the original Load record, appeared in 1997; despite poor reviews, it sold at a typically brisk pace and spun off several successful singles, including "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains." Garage Inc., a double-disc collection of B-sides, rarities, and newly recorded covers, followed in 1998. The band's take on Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" helped maintain their presence in the charts, and Metallica continued their flood of product with 1999's S&M, which documented a live concert with the San Francisco Symphony. It debuted at number two, reconfirming the group's immense popularity.
St. AngerMetallica spent most of 2000 embroiled in controversy by spearheading a legal assault against Napster, a file-sharing service that allowed users to download music files from each other's computers. Aggressively targeting copyright infringement of their own material, the band notoriously had over 300,000 users kicked off the service, creating a widespread debate over the availability of digital music that raged for most of the year. In January 2001, bassist Jason Newsted announced his amicable departure from the band. Shortly after the band appeared at the ESPN awards in April of the same year, Hetfield, Hammett, and Ulrich entered the recording studio to begin work on their next album, with producer Bob Rock lined up to handle bass duties for the sessions (meanwhile, rumors swirled of former Ozzy Osbourne/Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez being considered for the vacated position). In July, Metallica surprisingly dropped their lawsuit against Napster, perhaps sensing that their controversial stance did more bad than good to their "band of the people" image. That same summer, the band's recording sessions (and all other band-related matters) were put on hold as Hetfield entered an undisclosed rehab facility for alcoholism and other addictions. He completed treatment and rejoined the band as they headed back into the studio in 2002 to record St. Anger, which was later released in mid-2003.
Death Magnetic The recording of St. Anger was capped with the search for a permanent replacement for Newstead. After a long audition process, former Ozzy Osbourne/Suicidal Tendencies bass player Robert Trujillo was selected and joined Metallica for their 2003/2004 world tour. The growing pains that the band experienced during the recording of St. Anger were captured in the celebrated documentary Some Kind of Monster, which saw theatrical release in 2004. Four years later, the band returned with Death Magnetic, an energized album that returned the band to its early-'80s roots. Former Slayer producer Rick Rubin helmed the album, having replaced the band's longtime producer Bob Rock, while Kirk Hammett (who was forbidden to play guitar solos on St. Anger) peppered the record with metallic riffs and frenetic solos.
Death Magnetic spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and the group supported it with an extensive international tour that included a festival gig with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. Metallica closed out their Warner contract with Death Magnetic--outtakes from the sessions appeared as the Beyond Magnetic EP in late 2011--and while they were exploring their options, they struck up a collaboration with Lou Reed, releasing the ambitious, arty Lulu in the fall of 2011.
Master of Puppets After releasing their masterpiece Master of Puppets in 1986, tragedy struck the band when their tour bus crashed while traveling in Sweden. Burton died in the accident. When the band decided to continue, Jason Newsted was chosen to replace Burton; two years later, the band released the conceptually ambitious ...And Justice for All, which hit the Top Ten without any radio play and very little support from MTV. But Metallica completely crossed over into the mainstream with 1991's Metallica, a self-titled effort that found the band trading in their long compositions for more concise song structures. Peppered with hits like "Wherever I May Roam" and "Enter Sandman", it resulted in a number one album that sold over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. To support the record, Metallica launched a long tour that kept the musicians on the road for nearly two years.
Load By the '90s, Metallica had changed the rules for all heavy metal bands; they were the leaders of the genre, respected not only by headbangers, but by mainstream record buyers and critics. No other heavy metal band has ever been able to pull off such a feat. However, the group lost a portion of their core audience with their long-awaited follow-up to Metallica, 1996's Load. The album moved the band toward alternative rock in terms of image -- they cut their hair and had their picture taken by Anton Corbijn. Although the album was a hit upon its summer release, entering the charts at number one and selling three million copies within two months, certain members of their fanbase complained about the shift in image, as well as the group's decision to headline the sixth Lollapalooza. Re-Load, which combined new material with songs left off of the original Load record, appeared in 1997; despite poor reviews, it sold at a typically brisk pace and spun off several successful singles, including "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains." Garage Inc., a double-disc collection of B-sides, rarities, and newly recorded covers, followed in 1998. The band's take on Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" helped maintain their presence in the charts, and Metallica continued their flood of product with 1999's S&M, which documented a live concert with the San Francisco Symphony. It debuted at number two, reconfirming the group's immense popularity.
St. AngerMetallica spent most of 2000 embroiled in controversy by spearheading a legal assault against Napster, a file-sharing service that allowed users to download music files from each other's computers. Aggressively targeting copyright infringement of their own material, the band notoriously had over 300,000 users kicked off the service, creating a widespread debate over the availability of digital music that raged for most of the year. In January 2001, bassist Jason Newsted announced his amicable departure from the band. Shortly after the band appeared at the ESPN awards in April of the same year, Hetfield, Hammett, and Ulrich entered the recording studio to begin work on their next album, with producer Bob Rock lined up to handle bass duties for the sessions (meanwhile, rumors swirled of former Ozzy Osbourne/Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez being considered for the vacated position). In July, Metallica surprisingly dropped their lawsuit against Napster, perhaps sensing that their controversial stance did more bad than good to their "band of the people" image. That same summer, the band's recording sessions (and all other band-related matters) were put on hold as Hetfield entered an undisclosed rehab facility for alcoholism and other addictions. He completed treatment and rejoined the band as they headed back into the studio in 2002 to record St. Anger, which was later released in mid-2003.
Death Magnetic The recording of St. Anger was capped with the search for a permanent replacement for Newstead. After a long audition process, former Ozzy Osbourne/Suicidal Tendencies bass player Robert Trujillo was selected and joined Metallica for their 2003/2004 world tour. The growing pains that the band experienced during the recording of St. Anger were captured in the celebrated documentary Some Kind of Monster, which saw theatrical release in 2004. Four years later, the band returned with Death Magnetic, an energized album that returned the band to its early-'80s roots. Former Slayer producer Rick Rubin helmed the album, having replaced the band's longtime producer Bob Rock, while Kirk Hammett (who was forbidden to play guitar solos on St. Anger) peppered the record with metallic riffs and frenetic solos.
Death Magnetic spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and the group supported it with an extensive international tour that included a festival gig with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. Metallica closed out their Warner contract with Death Magnetic--outtakes from the sessions appeared as the Beyond Magnetic EP in late 2011--and while they were exploring their options, they struck up a collaboration with Lou Reed, releasing the ambitious, arty Lulu in the fall of 2011.
Metallica is an American metal band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California, United States when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in The Recycler. Metallica’s line-up originally consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine. Mustaine was later fired due to problems with alcoholism and drug addiction - he went on to form the band Megadeth. Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett took his place. <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Metallica">Read more about Metallica on Last.fm</a>.
Metallica est l'un des plus importants groupes de metal. C'est une formation de heavy metal et thrash metal américain. Créé au début des années 80 à l'initiative de Lars Ulrich et James Hetfield, respectivement batteur et guitariste chanteur du groupe. Le groupe a été créé en 1981-1982 à Los Angeles à l'initiative de Lars Ulrich, membre européen du groupe (il est danois). James Hetfield, en répondant à une petite annonce postée dans un magazine nommé The Recycler par Lars allait lier son destin à ce qui allait devenir l'un des plus importants groupes de heavy metal du XXe siècle. <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Metallica">Read more about Metallica on Last.fm</a>.
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, whose releases include fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the founding "big four" of thrash metal alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. They formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. As of 2003, the line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (who joined the band in 1983) and bassist Robert Trujillo (a member since 2003) alongside Hetfield and Ulrich. Previous members of the band are lead guitarist Dave Mustaine (who went on to found the band Megadeth), and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted. The band also had a long collaboration with producer Bob Rock, who produced all of its albums from 1990 to 2003 and served as a temporary bassist between the departure of Newsted and the hiring of Trujillo.
The band earned a growing fan-base in the underground music community and critical acclaim with its third album Master of Puppets (1986), described as one of the most influential and "heavy" thrash metal albums. Metallica achieved substantial commercial success with their eponymous fifth album (also known as The Black Album), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction resulting in an album that appealed to a more mainstream audience.
In 2000, Metallica was among a number of artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without any band member's consent. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite reaching number one on the Billboard 200, the release of St. Anger (2003) alienated many fans with the exclusion of guitar solos and the "steel-sounding" snare drum. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording process of St. Anger and the tensions within the band during that time. In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Metallica has released nine studio albums, three live albums, five extended plays, 24 music videos, and 45 singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards, and has had five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, making Metallica the first band to do so; this record was later matched by the Dave Matthews Band. The band's 1991 album, Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies in the United States, and 28 million copies worldwide, which makes it the 25th-best-selling album in the country. In December 2009, it became the best-selling album of the SoundScan era, surpassing 1997's Come on Over by country artist Shania Twain. The band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide as of the release of their latest album, Death Magnetic (2008). As of December 2009, Metallica is the fourth best-selling music artist since the SoundScan era began tracking sales on May 25, 1991, selling a total of 52,672,000 albums in the United States alone. As of 2011, Metallica is working on a new album.
The band earned a growing fan-base in the underground music community and critical acclaim with its third album Master of Puppets (1986), described as one of the most influential and "heavy" thrash metal albums. Metallica achieved substantial commercial success with their eponymous fifth album (also known as The Black Album), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction resulting in an album that appealed to a more mainstream audience.
In 2000, Metallica was among a number of artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band's copyright-protected material for free without any band member's consent. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite reaching number one on the Billboard 200, the release of St. Anger (2003) alienated many fans with the exclusion of guitar solos and the "steel-sounding" snare drum. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording process of St. Anger and the tensions within the band during that time. In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Metallica has released nine studio albums, three live albums, five extended plays, 24 music videos, and 45 singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards, and has had five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard 200, making Metallica the first band to do so; this record was later matched by the Dave Matthews Band. The band's 1991 album, Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies in the United States, and 28 million copies worldwide, which makes it the 25th-best-selling album in the country. In December 2009, it became the best-selling album of the SoundScan era, surpassing 1997's Come on Over by country artist Shania Twain. The band has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide as of the release of their latest album, Death Magnetic (2008). As of December 2009, Metallica is the fourth best-selling music artist since the SoundScan era began tracking sales on May 25, 1991, selling a total of 52,672,000 albums in the United States alone. As of 2011, Metallica is working on a new album.
Metallica är ett amerikanskt thrashband, grundat den 28 oktober 1981 i Los Angeles i Kalifornien i USA. Bandet har sålt över 100 miljoner album världen över, varav 58 miljoner i USA, och räknas som det mest inflytelserika bandet i sin genre. Tillsammans med Megadeth, Slayer och Anthrax räknas Metallica till The Big Four of Thrash. Debutalbumet Kill 'em All gavs ut 1983. De medverkade på Lou Reeds album Lulu som gavs ut 2011.
Metallica bildades som ett garageband i Los Angeles den 28 oktober 1981. Bandet bestod då av dansken Lars Ulrich (trummor) och amerikanen James Hetfield (sång och gitarr). Hetfield kom i kontakt med Ulrich genom en tidning vid namn "Recycler" där Ulrich hade lagt ut en annons. Då bandet behövde ytterligare en gitarrist satte Ulrich in en annons i en lokal nyhetstidning. Dave Mustaine svarade på annonsen och efter en provspelning blev han medlem i gruppen. I början av 1982 släppte Metallica en första demoinspelning vilket ledde till att de fick agera förband åt Saxon på klubben "Whiskey A Go Go" i Los Angeles. Spelningen den 27 mars innehöll framför allt covers av låtar från olika NWOBHM-band, men också Dave Mustaines nya låt "Metal Militia". Metallica anlitade ytterligare en gitarrist, Damien C. Philips (eg. Brad Parker) inför sin spelning på Consert Factory i Costa Mesa 23 april samma år.
Alkoholrelaterade problem innebar samarbetssvårigheter mellan Dave Mustaine och övriga medlemmar vilket ledde till att bandet avskedade Mustaine mitt under västkust-turnén. Kirk Hammett, tidigare i Exodus, anlitades därefter som gitarrist och hans första spelning med bandet skedde redan den 16 april på "The Showplace" i Denver, New Jersey.
Debutalbumet Kill 'em All släpptes 13 juli 1983 av Zazulas nystartade Megaforce Records. Skivan var från början tänkt att kallas "Metal Up Your Ass", men det accepterades inte av skivbolaget varvid Cliff Burton yttrade "Just fuckin' kill 'em all", vilket gav upphov till nuvarande titel. Kill 'Em All har kallats det första riktiga thrash metal-albumet på grund av dess snabba, aggressiva och tunga sound.
1986 var ett omvälvande år för Metallica. Inte bara för att deras storsäljande album Master Of Puppets gavs ut, utan även för att basisten Cliff Burton omkom vid en bussolycka på Riksettan vid den lilla orten Dörarp, strax norr om Ljungby i Sverige. Inför inspelningen av sitt tredje album hade Metallica valt att återvända till Köpenhamn och Sweet Silence Studios. Master Of Puppets spelades in under tre månader och gavs ut av Elektra i februari 1986. Albumet innehåller många kända låtar till exempel "Battery", "Master Of Puppets", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Disposable Heroes", "Damage Inc." och instrumentallåten "Orion" som man ofta förknippar med Cliff Burton.
Det storsäljande albumet Metallica, även känt som The Black Album på grund av omslaget med en svart orm på svart bakgrund, gavs ut 1991. Metallicas stil ändrades radikalt på den här skivan. Men skivan blev accepterad och mycket uppskattad av fansen och kritikerna. Man lyckades med att både tillfredsställa förväntningarna från sina gamla fans, samtidigt som man skaffade nya. Albumet innehåller låtar som "Enter Sandman" och "Nothing Else Matters" som blev mycket populära. Andra kända låtar från albumet är till exempel Sad But True, The Unforgiven och Wherever I May Roam.
2009 invaldes Metallica i Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Metallica bildades som ett garageband i Los Angeles den 28 oktober 1981. Bandet bestod då av dansken Lars Ulrich (trummor) och amerikanen James Hetfield (sång och gitarr). Hetfield kom i kontakt med Ulrich genom en tidning vid namn "Recycler" där Ulrich hade lagt ut en annons. Då bandet behövde ytterligare en gitarrist satte Ulrich in en annons i en lokal nyhetstidning. Dave Mustaine svarade på annonsen och efter en provspelning blev han medlem i gruppen. I början av 1982 släppte Metallica en första demoinspelning vilket ledde till att de fick agera förband åt Saxon på klubben "Whiskey A Go Go" i Los Angeles. Spelningen den 27 mars innehöll framför allt covers av låtar från olika NWOBHM-band, men också Dave Mustaines nya låt "Metal Militia". Metallica anlitade ytterligare en gitarrist, Damien C. Philips (eg. Brad Parker) inför sin spelning på Consert Factory i Costa Mesa 23 april samma år.
Alkoholrelaterade problem innebar samarbetssvårigheter mellan Dave Mustaine och övriga medlemmar vilket ledde till att bandet avskedade Mustaine mitt under västkust-turnén. Kirk Hammett, tidigare i Exodus, anlitades därefter som gitarrist och hans första spelning med bandet skedde redan den 16 april på "The Showplace" i Denver, New Jersey.
Debutalbumet Kill 'em All släpptes 13 juli 1983 av Zazulas nystartade Megaforce Records. Skivan var från början tänkt att kallas "Metal Up Your Ass", men det accepterades inte av skivbolaget varvid Cliff Burton yttrade "Just fuckin' kill 'em all", vilket gav upphov till nuvarande titel. Kill 'Em All har kallats det första riktiga thrash metal-albumet på grund av dess snabba, aggressiva och tunga sound.
1986 var ett omvälvande år för Metallica. Inte bara för att deras storsäljande album Master Of Puppets gavs ut, utan även för att basisten Cliff Burton omkom vid en bussolycka på Riksettan vid den lilla orten Dörarp, strax norr om Ljungby i Sverige. Inför inspelningen av sitt tredje album hade Metallica valt att återvända till Köpenhamn och Sweet Silence Studios. Master Of Puppets spelades in under tre månader och gavs ut av Elektra i februari 1986. Albumet innehåller många kända låtar till exempel "Battery", "Master Of Puppets", "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)", "Disposable Heroes", "Damage Inc." och instrumentallåten "Orion" som man ofta förknippar med Cliff Burton.
Det storsäljande albumet Metallica, även känt som The Black Album på grund av omslaget med en svart orm på svart bakgrund, gavs ut 1991. Metallicas stil ändrades radikalt på den här skivan. Men skivan blev accepterad och mycket uppskattad av fansen och kritikerna. Man lyckades med att både tillfredsställa förväntningarna från sina gamla fans, samtidigt som man skaffade nya. Albumet innehåller låtar som "Enter Sandman" och "Nothing Else Matters" som blev mycket populära. Andra kända låtar från albumet är till exempel Sad But True, The Unforgiven och Wherever I May Roam.
2009 invaldes Metallica i Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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