Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Mates to Become First Band to Appear Across All Fortnite Experiences

It’s game on for Robert Trujillo and his Metallica mates…

After conquering all terrestrial continents, the 59-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallica band mates are headed to Fortnite later this month when they become the first band to appear across all Fortnite experiences.

Robert TrujilloAfter launching Metallica-themed gameplay starting Thursday, June 13, in Fortnite Festival, Battle Royale, LEGO Fortnite and Rocket Racing, the Bay Area rockers will play a series of in-game concerts for players only on June 22 and 23 entitled Metallica: Fuel. Fire. Fury. 

Epic Games announced the news on Wednesday (June 12), revealing that users will have six opportunities to catch the concerts at 2:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm on the 22nd and 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on the 23rd.

The company said the concert was completely customized and built from the ground-up using the powerful Unreal Editor 3D computer graphic game engine.

The gig is described as an immersive experience with, “a brand-new playable concert that will journey through six of Metallica’s fan-favorite songs with themed gameplay that complements the intensity of a Metallica live show.”

The band follows previous Fortnite Festival guests Lady Gaga, the Weeknd and Billie Eilish, who’ve been featured in the game that was developed by the same company that gave you Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Metallica, FortniteWith band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Trujillo as the icons for Fortnite Festival Season 4, fans will be able to play along to such Metallica classics as “Enter Sandman,” “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets.”

The band will also be part of the new season of Fortnite Festival‘s Battle Stage, a new competitive way to play the rhythmic music game that will be available to play after the concerts take place.

The Stage will welcome 16 players in each match, with all competitors playing the same four-song set until one comes out on top. Season 4 beings on Thursday and lasts through 12:00 am ET on August 16. Users can also grab Metallica-themed collectibles — including instruments and outfits — and go on band-themed quests.

Robert Trujillo & His Metallica Band Mates Notch Five of the Top 10 Best-Selling Albums on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart

Robert Trujillo is makin’ a major mark on the Billboard charts…

The 56-year-old half-Mexican American bassist and songwriter and his Metallica band mates hold five of the top 10 best-selling albums of the week in the U.S., as reflected on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated February 13).

Robert Trujillo & Metallica

It’s the first time since 2016 that one act has five out of the top 10 on the tally.

Metallica jumps 67-3, while the group notches re-entries with Ride the Lightning (No. 4), …And Justice for All (No. 5), Master of Puppets (No. 7) and Kill ‘Em All (No. 8), respectively. The takeover is due to the band’s release of six of its earlier albums on limited edition color vinyl via Walmart on January 29.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now MRC Data. Pure album sales were the measurement solely utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated December 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units.

Here’s a look at Metallica’s five albums in the top 10 on Top Album Sales, along with a sixth that missed the region, but is at No. 15. Nearly all of the sales for each title are from their vinyl editions.

Title; Rank; Total Copies Sold on All Formats (Gain)
Metallica; No. 3; 10,000 (up 383%)
Ride the Lightning; No. 4; 9,700 (up 617%)
…And Justice for All; No. 5; 9,400 (up 776%)
Master of Puppets; No. 7; 8,100 (up 1,102%)Kill ‘Em All; No. 8; 8,000 (up 917%)
Hardwired… To Self-Destruct; re-entry at No. 15; 5,500 (up 2,433%)

The last act to have five of the top 10 on Top Album Sales was Prince, following his death in 2016, when he claimed half of the region on the list dated May 14, 2016.

Metallica also has six of the top 10 on the February 13-dated Vinyl Albums chart – the third time an act has held six of the top 10. It previously happened on March 19, 2016 (David Bowie) and Dec. 1, 2012 (The Beatles). Back on the Top Album Sales chart, Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album is steady at No. 1 for a third nonconsecutive week, with 25,000 sold (up 102%).

Robert Trujillo & Metallica Partner with Stance on a Rockin’ Sock Line

Robert Trujillo wants to help you put your best (rockin’) foot forward…

The 55-year-old half-Mexican American musician and his Metallicaband mates have released their latest band merch: socks.

Metallica

Metallica announced their collaboration with sock maker Stance this week on eight styles of hosiery in a mix of performance and casual options. 

The sock styles include a black youth version with a white Metallica logo, an infant/toddler three-pack, a version with flaming skulls, as well as Master of PuppetsRide the LightningKill ‘Em All and Master of Puppet versions for adults; there is also a Metallica logo sock for adults in the collection, with prices ranging from $13.99-$24.99. 

Metallica x Stance Socks
Metallica x Stance Socks
Metallica x Stance Socks
Metallica x Stance Socks
Metallica x Stance Socks

But this isn’t Metallica’s first fashion collaboration…

The hard rock band previously launched a Billabong x Metallica Black AlbumJacket, “Enter Sandman” Nixonwatch, Master of Puppets BrokkerFigure Set and the Kill ‘Em All backpack. 

Trujillo and His Metallica Bandmates Named Record Store Day Ambassadors

Robert Trujillo is going on the record

The 51-year-old bassist and his fellow Metallica band mates will serve as the official 2016 ambassadors for this year’s Record Store Day, which is set for April 16, the same day a multitude of vinyl exclusives are set to descend on independent record stores across America.

Metallica

The metal legends broke the news in an eight-minute video featuring all four members recounting their lifelong vinyl love.

But that’s not all. Metallica will have a special record store day release. The same day, the band will release a new live album called Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, Metallica!  featuring nine tracks recorded at a 2003 gig at Paris’ Bataclan, the same venue victimized by the November 2015 Paris attacks. All proceeds from the LP will go towards the Fondation de France‘s Give For France charity.

Metallica has a long history of involvement with Record Store Day. In 2008, the band hung out with fans at Rasputin Records in Mountain View, Calif., to help promote the event’s inaugural year. And last year, the reissue of Metallica’s 1982 demo cassette, No Life Til Leather, was crowned Record Store Day’s top seller.

“Independent record stores are part of Metallica’s DNA,” drummer Lars Ulrich said in an official statement. “They have been pivotal in shaping each one of us into the music fanatics we’ve all become. We could not be any prouder to be Record Store Day Ambassadors for 2016 and are looking forward to screaming from every rooftop the next few months about everything independent record store and beyond.”

Last year’s ambassador was Foo Fighter‘s Dave Grohl, preceded by Chuck D. in 2014 and Jack White in 2013.

Earlier this month, Metallica detailed plans to reissue its first two albums, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All and 1984’s Ride the Lightning. Both of these vault-opening box sets were scheduled to be released April 15, which now, conveniently, arrives just a day ahead of Record Store Day.

All this comes while Metallica is working on its so-far-untitled 10th studio album.

Here’s the track listing for Metallica’s forthcoming live album, Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité, Metallica! – Live at Le Bataclan. Paris, France – June 11th, 2003.

  1. “The Four Horsemen”
  2. “Leper Messiah”
  3. “No Remorse”
  4. “Fade to Black”
  5. “Frantic”
  6. “Ride the Lightning”
  7. “Blackened”
  8. “Seek and Destroy”
  9. “Damage, Inc.”