Metallica, with Bob Rock on bass, play a six-song set on a flat-bed truck in the parking lot before the Raiders/Titans Super Bowl Game.

Before the game.

After three months of auditions, Metallica announce that Robert Trujillo will replace Jason Newsted as bassist.

"I was just excited to jam with the guys, because either way I could walk out and say, 'I got to jam with Metallica.' On the first day of the audition we just hung out and got to know one another again, and then the second day was the performance day. I thought it sounded killer. I had a night on the town with Lars the night before, so in a way that made things easier. It helped me not be so nervous."

— Robert Trujillo, on his audition, Kerrang! Legends: Metallica

"When Rob came to San Francisco the first time and jammed with us, we all felt this incredible magic between the four of us. It was just something that we could not describe, we all just knew it. To welcome Rob into Metallica in 2003, after all the growth and soul-searching we've been through for the last two years, feels so fucking awesome. Being at full strength again is at this moment indescribable."

— Lars, Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica

"He's on fire, he's ready, he's plugged right into the strength of Metallica and helping it shine."

— James, Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica

Robert Trujillo

Metallica: James, Lars, Kirk, Rob

Metallica shoots the first video for the title track from the new album, "St. Anger," at the San Quentin State Prison. They return the next day to perform for the inmates as a "thank you" for their help in making the video. This is Rob's first official performance with the band.

"San Quentin has a 'no hostage policy'—which means if someone gets taken hostage, there will be no negotiating, you are on your own, buddy."

— Correctional officer who welcomed the band to San Quentin

"If I hadn't had music in my life, it's quite possible I could be in here, or be dead. I'd much rather be alive."

— James, addressing the inmates during the performance.

San Quentin

The band have been selected to be this year's MTV Icon. The show is taped on May 3. Avril Lavigne, Sum 41, Snoop Dogg, Korn, Limp Bizkit are among the artists covering Metallica songs. At the end of the show, Metallica plays a medley and a short clip of a new song.

"We have always looked up to them in the sense that they have paved the way ... We are just here to pay respect tonight."

— Jonathan Davis (Korn), mtv.com

"They are the originals. The original metal."

— DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit), mtv.com

"What's not to love about Metallica? I mean, dude, [they're] just kick-ass heavy metal. They kick your ass with every song. What more do you want?"

— Dave Buckner (Papa Roach), mtv.com

"I just have this fear that when you talk about it in the past tense it means our better days are behind us. I'm still ignorant enough to believe we have some good days in front of us."

— Lars, Associated Press, 2003

MTV Icon

In preparation for the upcoming tour, the band play four Metclub-only shows at Fillmore, San Francisco.

"My neck hurts, my knees hurt, my wrist hurts, my voice is shot and I can't hear anything but it was the best time EVER!!!"

— "netjaymz" (a longtime Metallica fan)

Four nights at Fillmore

"St. Anger" video is released.

"St. Anger" video

Earlier than previously announced, St. Anger is released, as a 2-disc set (CD of music, DVD of rehearsals.)

"One of the things I'm proudest of with this new record, we've proven not only to ourselves, but to the immediate, second tier around us. A lot of people didn't think it was possible to make a really aggressive, angry, dynamic, brutal, fucked-up record if everybody in the band got along really well, and if there was a good sense of communication, camaraderie, respect, love, all this type of stuff with the guys in the band."

— Lars, "Tell-Tale 'Tallica" interview, 2003

"This material is very strong and very representative of where we are now musically, personally, emotionally and mentally. It's the most complete band statement that we've ever made."

— Kirk, mtv.com, 2003

"We are so in love with this new album it is sickening. We can't stop playing it, it is pumping through us, we can't wait to get out and play this stuff live."

— James, mtv.com, 2003

St. Anger

European festivals tour.

1. Heineken Jamming Festival, June 13, Italy
2,4. Rock Im Park, June 6, Germany
3. Frequency Festival, August 15, Austria
5. Wuhlheide, June 7, Germany
6. Donington, June 1, UK

Summer Sanitarium 2003 tour with Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Deftones and Mudvayne. In Irving, TX, James celebrates his 40th birthday.

"The stage is big like an aircraft carrier, so you have some of your cardio there, and depending on the temperature, it can be pretty challenging. Also, Metallica's music can be pretty fast and ferocious. They're pissed off, man. They scare me up there."

— Rob, vh1.com

"The highlight for me is just the vibe between the bands. Sometimes when you play these big places and everybody's doing a lot of press, you don't see each other as much as you like. But I'm digging trying to get up onstage and see other bands."

— Lars, vh1.com

"It's unbelievable, the energy I feel from you guys out there. It's awesome."

— James talking to the audience in Philadelphia

Summer Sanitarium 2003 tour

Metallica portrays Led Zeppelin in the 70th anniversary issue of Esquire Magazine.

"Wow, I have not had this long of hair in 10 years, it feels great."

— James, wearing his Robert Plant wig, metallica.com

"Led Zeppelin" Metallica

Madly In Anger With The World tour begins, in support of the St. Anger album. The band celebrates the first anniversary of Rob's first gig with Metallica.

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster documentary is presented at the Sundance Film Festival. The film chronicles the members of Metallica's lives from the time they started working on their most recent album, St. Anger, to the first show of the 2003 tour, and it includes dramatic scenes of the group in therapy, confronting former members Dave Mustaine and Jason Newsted, and dealing with the demands of a newly clean and sober James Hetfield.

"Our mantra in the editing room was, 'Our film ends where most concert films begin.'"

— Joe Berlinger (director), mtv.com

"On the surface it's about the making of St. Anger, but it's much more a film about human relationships and the creative process. It asks how you manage the multiple issues of being big rock stars while approaching middle age, being fathers and not wanting to party the way you used to party. And most importantly, how do you stay vital musically when you're incredibly successful?"

— Joe Berlinger (director), mtv.com

"I also feel that this film shows a part of Metallica that is just really intimate and honest and it shows a part of the band that you don't really see a lot with other public bands. This is a window into our private life and how we interact, and it's all just very natural and honest. What the people will see when they see this film is basically how we really, really are off stage, out of the studio, in the studio, whatever. It shows a real human side to Metallica that is not really brought to light."

— Kirk, during the satellite press conference at Sundance

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster