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A&R Executive Who 'Discovered' METALLICA Interviewed
- Oct. 21, 2009
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Heather MacDonald of Fantasticsmag recently conducted an in-depth interview with former Elektra and Geffen Records A&R executive Michael Alago, who "discovered and nurtured METALLICA" in addition to signing such acclaimed acts as WHITE ZOMBIE, METAL CHURCH, SPEEDEALER and LOCAL H. You can read the entire piece online at this location. A couple of sample pages are available below. Alago worked in the music industry for nearly two decades as producer and talent scout. Known and respected by most of the major labels for his expertise in a variety of musical genres, Alago discovered METALLICA and worked with a diverse group of artists that includes Michael Feinstein, Johnny Rotten, WHITE ZOMBIE and Nina Simone. Alago left the music business in the summer of 2003 to concentrate on another life-long passion — photography. Working initially with a Polaroid camera, Michael began a series of stark male portraits that is still ongoing. Michael has exhibited in New York, Paris, Berlin, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Montreal and Toronto and continues to photograph "rough gods" wherever he may find them. 
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COMMENT |
posted by : The Grand Wizard
10/22/2009 12:10:28 AM
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Wow, those are some great bands. He's got an ear for talent, that's for sure. He probably made a shitload of money in his career, too. Good for him.
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COMMENT | Funny -
posted by : THRASHMONGER
10/22/2009 12:21:09 AM
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How these assholes "discover" a band who already had an album out and a burgeoning fan following...
ALSO, true story - They were "discovered" in NY while opening for RAVEN (a 3-piece band) - He asked someone in the audience "who are these guys" and was told "Metallica" - He gave Johnny Z an invite for the band to come to his offices - And when the band showed up, he said "I thought you guys were a three-piece?"
The guy was more intersted in RAVEN at the fucking show, but ended up w Metallica - Of course, Metallica is a worldwide sensation that Raven would not necessarily have gone on to be, but there you have it...
To this day, I'd rather listen to ANY Raven album over anything Metallica has done in the last 20+ years.
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COMMENT | ^^ Thashmonger ^^
posted by :
10/22/2009 12:37:29 AM
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That's a great story, if true. I've no reason to doubt it -- THAT'S HOW THE MUSIC BUSINESS WORKS! Those were the good old days, for sure. Metal up your ass.
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COMMENT | yeah
posted by : Red16
10/22/2009 1:44:09 AM
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thrashmonger sounds like a loser douche.
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COMMENT | Reo Speedealer
posted by : KILO G
10/22/2009 2:28:02 AM
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He needs to rediscover their talent.
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COMMENT | jrsydvl65
posted by : The Grand Wizard
10/22/2009 2:40:57 AM
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So I should be pissed off that some guy from a major label was smart enough to give some great bands their big break? Give them an opportunity to have an actual career and not just release a few indie records before hanging it up? Yeah I'm real pissed about that.
It sucks that Metallica went down the shitter and it sucks that a few other bands tried to follow their lead, but I'm not so shortsighted as to ignore the fact that Metallica wouldn't be half as influential as they are today without the massive following that they've achieved.
And spare me the melodrama about how the rich white man exploited the metal scene for corporate profit. The music business is a business like any other and if you have a problem with people making money then move to China. Metallica is counting their millions and laughing their asses off, and so is Rob Zombie for that matter.
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COMMENT | Awe
posted by : Wile E Coyote Super Genius
10/22/2009 4:09:13 AM
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Isn't that thssspecial
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COMMENT | Metallica wouldn't be half as influential as they are today...
posted by : mortalfungus
10/22/2009 4:16:01 AM
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...if Diamond Head didn't exist. Really, listen to DHs "White album" and judge by yourselves.
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COMMENT |
posted by :
10/22/2009 5:37:06 AM
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^
Ho come on. Sure Diamond Head had a big influence on Metallica, proof being that in the early days they'd mostly play covers off the Lightning to the Nations album, BUT Metallica quickly evolved from there afterwards.
how could one seriously compare Kill em all with DH? DH were a classic hard rock band. their lyrics were even quite cock rock, and the singer was a Robert Plant imitator. their guitars and drums weren't very agressive compared to other NWOBHM acts like Venom or Blitzkrieg or even Motorhead.
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COMMENT | The Grand Wizard
posted by :
10/22/2009 6:56:33 AM
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"I'm not so shortsighted as to ignore the fact that Metallica wouldn't be half as influential as they are today without the massive following that they've achieved"
And why would you care about Metallica being or not being influential?
You feel yourself important as a fan of "influential", albeit shitty, band?
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COMMENT | One example
posted by : mortalfungus
10/22/2009 7:25:11 AM
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"Sucking my love" is a hard rock song, "Seek and destroy" is a thrash song, right? But the main rif in both songs IS exactly the same.
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COMMENT | Wow
posted by : Bilbo "Douche" Baggins
10/22/2009 9:10:52 AM
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Kirk Hammett looks really young in that picture.
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COMMENT | RAVEN
posted by : superior
10/22/2009 9:21:04 AM
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The Raven story is 100%true. Michael Alago was surprised when Metallica showed up instead of RAVEN.
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COMMENT |
posted by : www.thenextslayer.com
10/22/2009 10:17:55 AM
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Is Michael Alago gay or what?
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COMMENT | Yeah that was a slam dunk....
posted by : mastronaut
10/22/2009 10:31:50 AM
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I discovered them after they had already put out two full albums on an indie label and had a rabid following well before that. Ok...
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COMMENT | "Discovered"?
posted by :
10/22/2009 10:37:13 AM
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Jon Zazula is more responsible for this bands "discovering" then anyone.
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COMMENT | Bilbo "Douche" Baggins
posted by : MK
10/22/2009 10:50:58 AM
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That was great! LMAO!
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COMMENT | Raven
posted by : Sharon Tate Baby
10/22/2009 10:59:50 AM
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had their chance and put out some really poor crap after "All For One". Metallica is successful on their own merit. If the Raven 3 piece story is true wouldn't he have listened to their albums or at least do some follow up? He made the right decision to sign Metallica or someone else would have.
Hell, didn't he have a clue in his office when none of them were wearing goalie helmets ?
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COMMENT | ^ lol
posted by : THRASHMONGER
10/22/2009 11:29:13 AM
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The hockey/wrestling gear was after that time, major-label pressure, haha
Point well-taken though. Raven fully admits that "The Pack Is Back" was their "Turbo" if you catch the drift. But Priest came back in spades, and so has Raven, many times over.
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COMMENT | Hetfields Black Eye
posted by : JTGunnR
10/22/2009 11:36:50 AM
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I wonder if that is from Dave Mustaine???
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COMMENT | THRASHMONGER
posted by : Sharon Tate Baby
10/22/2009 1:20:07 PM
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I am pretty sure the drummer wore the goalie mask on the back of the All For One album.
I pretty much gave up on them after buying "Stay Hard". I haven't heard anything after "The Pack Is Back". I do remember hearing songs from that album and thinking that it was pretty much over.
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COMMENT | Metallica = GODS!
posted by : RiotAct666
10/22/2009 1:52:32 PM
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Best band ever
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COMMENT | Bilbo you have fail...
posted by :
10/22/2009 2:03:54 PM
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COMMENT | Wow
posted by : Bilbo "Douche" Baggins
10/22/2009 9:10:52 AM
Kirk Hammett looks really young in that picture.
Look at the pic again stupid tool! That is NOT Kirk Hammett... it's Michael Alago duhhhhh
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COMMENT | ^^^^ I think he meant
posted by : Sharon Tate Baby
10/22/2009 2:53:04 PM
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James Hetfield, who is also in that photo.
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COMMENT | pigchop
posted by : The Return of Adam West
10/23/2009 4:29:37 PM
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dude, everybody knows you're still in high school, seriously, stop acting like u're an old man, its not cool
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