- Ron McGovney
Infobox musical artist
Name = Ron McGovney
Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Ronald McGovney
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1963|11|2
Los Angeles, California
Instrument =Bass guitar
Genre = Heavy metal,thrash metal
Occupation =Musician
Years_active = 1981-1982, 1986
Associated_acts =Metallica
PhantasmLeather Charm
Notable_instruments =Ron McGovney (born
November 2 ,1963 ,Los Angeles, California ) is an American musician most notable for beingMetallica 's first bass player when they formed in the early 1980s. He was replaced byCliff Burton . After leaving from Metallica, McGovney was disillusioned with music and sold most of his equipment. However, several years later, he was enticed into another band called Phantasm, which he helped contribute to the band's only album. He then left Phantasm after a couple of years. McGovney is of Scottish descent.Metallica
McGovney met
James Hetfield in junior high school. They became friends through a mutual love of heavy metal, and alienation from their peers. Hetfield convinced McGovney to learn to play bass guitar, rented a bass guitar and an amplifier and proceeded to teach McGovney. Soon the two of them moved into one of McGovney's parents' rental houses, which was due to be demolished.At the time James and Ron were in a band called
Leather Charm with guitar player Hugh Tanner. Tanner later decided that he wanted to pursue music management, and left the band. James and Ron then met guitarist Troy James and drummer Jim Mulligan, the latter of whom left the band shortly afterward. Tanner introduced them toLars Ulrich . Soon James, Ron and Lars brought guitaristDave Mustaine into the band and Metallica was officially born.Though McGovney was the bass player for the band, his time with the band was reportedly not enjoyable. He and Ulrich frequently clashed for a variety of reasons during their stint. Further, McGovney and Mustaine had similar incidents [http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1997_ronmcgovney.htm Ron McGovney Interview 1997 ] ] . McGovney's sentiments were he was being used more as "monetary management and transportation" than being respected for being a member of the band. Due to this, McGovney was quickly growing tired of acting as unofficial manager.
Departure
McGovney recorded several demos with Metallica including one from his own garage in 1982, the "Power Metal" Demo, "
No Life 'Til Leather " and the notable live demo "Metal Up Your Ass ". "Hit The Lights" was a song that eventually went on the "Metal Massacre Vol. 1" album.Reportedly Hetfield and Mustaine were of the opinion that McGovney "didn't contribute anything, he just followed."cite web|title=Metallica timeline March 14, 1982 – July 6, 1982|publisher=MTV.com|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=3|accessdate=2008-07-22] In 1982 Metallica approached bassist
Cliff Burton to join the band without McGovney's initial knowledge. This reportedly outraged McGovney to the extent he subsequently left the band. The views of his depature vary from Metallica claiming that they fired him to McGovney claiming that he had left on his own volition. After his departure with Metallica, McGovney went on to join the band Phantasm with frontmanKaton W. DePena .eBay
About 15 years after leaving the band, McGovney sold most of his Metallica memorabilia on
eBay . This did not include his bass guitar that he used when he was in Metallica.Fact|date=September 2008References
External links
* [http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/ron1.html HardRadio.com Ron McGovney Interview]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
