Trujillo & His Metallica Bandmates Notch Ninth No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs Chart

Robert Trujillo is feeling the Rise

The 52-year-old Mexican American musician and his Metallica bandmates have notched their ninth No. 1 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart, as “Atlas, Rise!,” the third single from Hardwired… To Self-Destruct, rises 2-1 on the list dated February 18.

Robert Trujillo

The song is Metallica’s second No. 1 from the album, following “Hardwired” (October 8, 2016). The band also scored two chart-toppers apiece from two prior LPs: The group’s last studio set, 2008’s Death Magnetic (“The Day That Never Comes,” “Cyanide“), and 1996’s Load (“Until It Sleeps,” “Hero of the Day“).

With its ninth overall Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1, Metallica is in a tie for fifth place among all acts for the most leaders since the chart launched in 1981. The new No. 1 ties the quartet with Aerosmith, while Van Halen leads with 13 toppers.

Most No. 1s on Mainstream Rock Songs

13, Van Halen (between 1982 and 1998)
12, Three Days Grace (2004-15)
10, Tom Petty/The Heartbreakers (1981-94)
10, Shinedown (2005-16)
9, Aerosmith (1989-2001)
9, Metallica (1996-2017)
8, Linkin Park (2003-14)
8, Nickelback (2001-14)

Notably, Metallica’s span of No. 1s extends to a chart-record 20 years, eight months and 12 days, narrowly passing the span of Red Hot Chili Peppers (three days shy of 20 years, eight months, between 1995 and 2016).

All three singles from Hardwired have made the Mainstream Rock Songs chart. In between leaders “Hardwired” and “Atlas,” “Moth Into Flame” reached No. 5 in November; between Nov. 19 and Jan. 14, all three songs charted simultaneously. The set opened as Metallica’s sixth No. 1 on the Billboard 200 (Dec. 10).

“Atlas” concurrently reaches a new peak (14-12) on the genre-encompassing Rock Airplay chart (5.2 million audience impressions, up 7 percent, according to Nielsen Music). The rank is Metallica’s best on the survey, which began in 2009; “Hardwired” previously led with a No. 13 peak.