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Revision as of 11:28, 28 August 2008
Ron McGovney |
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 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2008) |
Ron McGovney (born November 2, 1962, Los Angeles, California) is an American musician most notable for being Metallica's first bass player when they formed in the early 1980s. He was replaced by Cliff Burton. After leaving from Metallica, McGovney was disillusioned with music and sold most of his equipment. However, several years later, he was enticed into another band called Phantasm, which he help contribute to the band's only album. He then left Phantasm after a couple of years.
Metallica
McGovney met James Hetfield in junior high school. They became friends through a mutual love of heavy metal, and alienation from their peers. Hetfield convinced McGovney to learn to play bass guitar, rented a bass guitar and an amplifier and proceeded to teach McGovney. Soon the two of them moved into one of McGovney's parents' rental houses, which was due to be demolished. McGovney is of Scottish descent.
At the time James and Ron were in a band called Leather Charm with guitar player Hugh Tanner. Tanner later decided that he wanted to pursue music management, and left the band. James and Ron then met guitarist Troy James and drummer Jim Mulligan, the latter of whom left the band shortly afterward. Tanner introduced them to Lars Ulrich. Soon James, Ron and Lars brought guitarist Dave Mustaine into the band and Metallica was officially born.
Though McGovney was the bass player for the band, his time with the band was reportedly not enjoyable. He and Ulrich frequently clashed for a variety of reasons during their stint. Further, McGovney and Mustaine had similar incidents[1]. McGovney's sentiments were he was being used more as "monetary management and transportation" than being respected for being a member of the band. Due to this, McGovney was quickly growing tired of acting as unofficial manager.[1]
Departure
McGovney recorded several demos with Metallica including one from his own garage in '82, the Power Metal Demo, No Life 'Til Leather and the notable live demo Metal Up Your Ass. Hit The Lights was a song that eventually went on the Metal Massacre Vol. 1 album.
Reportedly Hetfield and Mustaine were of the opinion McGovney "didn't contribute anything, he just followed."[2] In 1982 Metallica approached bassist Cliff Burton to join the band without McGovney's initial knowledge. This reportedly outraged McGovney to the extent he subsequently left the band. The views of his depature vary from Metallica claiming that they fired him to McGovney claiming that he had left on his own volition. After his departure with Metallica, McGovney went on to join the band Phantasm with frontman Katon W. DePena.
eBay
About 15 years after leaving the band, McGovney sold most of his Metallica memorabilia on eBay. This included his bass guitar that he used when he was in Metallica.
References
- ^ a b Ron McGovney Interview 1997
- ^ "Metallica timeline March 14, 1982 – July 6, 1982". MTV.com. Retrieved 2008-07-22.
