Who did Metallica want as their singer?

In the early days of Metallica, before James Hetfield’s iconic growl became synonymous with the band, there was another vocalist in the mix. John Bush, the frontman of Armored Saint, was the man Metallica originally wanted as their singer.

Metallica, founded in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, was still finding its identity. Their early sound was aggressive, raw, and rooted in thrash metal—a genre that would soon define their legacy.

Metallica admired John Bush’s vocal prowess and stage presence. Bush was the lead vocalist of Armored Saint, a band that was gaining traction in the metal scene.  When Metallica was looking for a singer, they set their sights on Bush.

Metallica approached Bush, expressing interest in recruiting him. However, Bush was deeply committed to his brothers in Armored Saint. He declined Metallica’s offer, citing loyalty to his bandmates and the strong bond they shared.

In a fun twist, Metallica ended up recruiting one of Armored Saint’s techs. The tech’s name? Jason Newsted, who would later become Metallica’s bassist after Cliff Burton’s tragic death.

In an old interview, John Bush explained his decision: Metallica was a new and relatively unknown band at the time. Armored Saint was gaining momentum, and Bush felt a strong connection with his bandmates. He respected Metallica’s interest but chose to stay with Armored Saint.

Lars Ulrich, Metallica’s drummer, reflected on what might have been: He imagined how different Metallica would be with Bush as the frontman. Ultimately, he expressed gratitude that James Hetfield remained the band’s singer.