To celebrate 30 years of legendary heavy metal band, Metallica, Proud Camden presents Fade to Black: Metallica by Bill Hale.

Formed in 1981 by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, Metallica’s early releases included fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the “big four” of the thrash-metal subgenre. Proud Galleries has been granted unique access to Hale’s archive of Metallica between 1982 and 1984 in their embryonic stage and is an insight into the raw energy and fearlessness that characterised the young Metallica.

Bill Hale was right there from the beginning, granted unprecedented access to the band before, during and after their legendary performances. This exhibition contains rare and exclusive shots from some of the band’s earliest performances, including their first shows in San Francisco at the Stone and the Old Waldorf. See the original lineup, which featured Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney; Cliff Burton’s introductory gig with the band; the last show in the Bay area with Mustaine; and Kirk Hammett’s Metallica debut in San Francisco.