Metallica Scholars Initiative Returns to Massachusetts

The Metallica Scholars Initiative is returning for a fifth year and growing its reach, which includes a presence here in Massachusetts.

Metallica's Scholars Initiative is an extension of the band's charitable arm, the All Within My Hands Foundation. You might remember the Foundation from their Month of Giving earlier this year. Metallica and their various fan club chapters--including Masster of Puppets, the Official Metclub Chapter of Massachusetts--worked throughout May to raise funds for The Farmlink Project. I had the pleasure of speaking with AWMH's Director of Philanthropy Renee Richardson about the initiative. Listen to our chat here.

Now, we turn out focus to the Scholars Initiative. So what is it and what's the latest? Here's a bit from their press release:

"The major workforce education initiative that Metallica’s All Within My Hands (AWMH) foundation launched in 2019 in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), is marking its fifth year with the addition of 11 new colleges to its existing 31-college roster, and an ambitious expansion into new programs. Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states in the US to enhance their career and technical education programs."

On that list of 42 community colleges? Middlesex Community College's Lowell campus. To date, the band and foundation have supported over 5,000 scholars to the tune of $6M invested in the American workforce, committing to career and technical education at the local level.

So how does one become a Metallica Scholar? You can find out more about that here, and you can also donate to the program if you feel moved to. My oldest son is preparing to take some community college courses in the fall, so I'm absolutely going to share this with him. Because how cool would it be to have "Metallica Scholar" on your resume?

A few times a year, there's a date on the calendar that rocks harder than others. Let's look back at 3 albums released on July 25.

First, we'll go back to July 25th, 1980. That's the day AC/DC dropped Back In Black. You know the story by now. The band finally broke through internationally with Highway to Hell in 1979. Then, founding lead singer Bon Scott died. In less than a year, the band found a new singer, recorded a new album, and released it. It's their greatest album to date, and I wrote about its 40th anniversary.

Next, we'll hop in the wayback machine to July 25th, 1983. An up-and-coming Bay Area thrash metal band called Metallica released their debut album, Kill 'Em All, on that date. Released on independent label Megaforce Records, it was recorded on a $15,000 budget. Flash forward 40 years and that little thrash metal band is now the biggest metal band in the world. And Kill 'Em All still shreds.

Me

Rounding out the trio is another album that hit shelves on July 25th. Beastie Boys put Paul's Boutique out into the world in 1989. It built on their 1986 debut Licensed to Ill and leaned more heavily into their hip-hop influences. It was also one of the last albums of that era of rap to be made without clearing samples. Today? The album would never actually be made. It would cost too damn much.

A few years ago, the Beasties put out an anniversary edition with rarities; you can read about that here. Below, I'm giving you a pair of tracks from each album: my two favorites. So maybe, in the years to come, you'll spend your July 25th celebrating this trio of albums that all share the same birthday and are all essentials in any discerning collection of rock releases.

Is there a bad song on this album? The answer is no. They're all great, to varying degrees. I'm quite fond of this one.

My favorite song on the album. My favorite AC/DC song, period. And it was a last-minute toss-on!

Side 1, Track 1. Your introduction to Metallica. Unless you were savvy enough to have the No Life 'til Leather demo.

The album's first proper single. One of the many Metallica songs my brother would shred when he was first learning guitar.

Or, as I like to call it, "Shake Your Rump-ah!" Certified banger. Never get tired of it.

You gotta give it up to the B-Boys: they know their bible stories. I wonder if church kids listen to this one in Sunday School?