Metallica "Wherever I May Roam (Single & Video)"

"Wherever I May Roam" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in October 1992 as the fourth single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica.

All stringed instruments featured in this song, both guitars and basses, are tuned in the standard tuning of E A D G B E. The original recording of the song is notable for its interesting instrumentation: Asian instruments such as a gong and sitar-like-guitar feature, along with an overdubbed Warwick twelve-string bass. This instrument was only used for 'effect' during the intro to emphasize several accented notes and then a standardly tuned 4-string bass was used as the main bass instrument throughout the remainder of the recording.

The song is performed frequently during the band's live concerts, and was performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen) on the live S&M and its companion DVD. When performed live, the band has always relied on their original sitar recording for the intro (the band enters on the first accented note to dramatic effect), however for the S&M concerts guitarist Kirk Hammett utilised a Danelectro electric sitar for the intro before switching to his ESP electric guitar. Jason Newsted never reprised his use of the 12-string bass guitar for any live performances of the song.


The music video featured clips from Metallica behind the scenes and in concert, during their Wherever We May Roam Tour.

International Single
1. Wherever I May Roam
2. Fade to Black (live)
3. Wherever I May Roam (demo)

International Digipak:
1. Wherever I May Roam
2. Last Caress / Am I Evil / Battery (live medley) (11:59)

Japanese EP
1. Wherever I May Roam
2. Fade to Black (live)
3. Last Caress / Am I Evil / Battery (live medley) (11:59)

From the German edition booklet:
Wherever I May Roam: Produced by Bob Rock with Hetfield & Ulrich.

Fade to Black: Recorded live September 28, 1991 at Tushino Airfield, Moscow, Russia, by Fleetwood Mobiles. Mixed by Randy Staub.
Original version available on Ride The Lightning.

Wherever I May Roam (Demo): Obviously not produced. Recorded in Lars' basement, August 13, 1990.

One of our earliest demos, this track is distinguished by the fact that we all knew the song had to be called "Wherever I May Roam" 'cause those were just about the only lyrics James had worked out! This is a typical example of how we work with James only coming up with the vocal melodies and the rest of us having to continuously suffer through hearing about something or somebody named Wa na na. Once again, the only two Metallica's present were James and Lars... which means it's James playing the guitar 'solo'.