Wherever I May Roam


"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. It reached number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, as well as in Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Music

All stringed instruments featured in this song, both guitars and basses, are tuned to standard tuning. 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 on the live S&M and its companion DVD, as well as the 2019 S&M2. When performed live, the band has always relied on their original sitar recording for the intro, 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.

Demo

The song's demo was recorded in Lars Ulrich's home musical studio "Dungeon" on August 13, 1990.

Track listings

US single
  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:42
  2. "Fade to Black" – 7:43
International single
  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:43
  2. "Fade to Black" – 7:43
  3. "Wherever I May Roam" – 5:35
International digipak single
  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:45
  2. "Last Caress" /"Am I Evil?" /"Battery" – 11:59
Japanese EP
  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:44
  2. "Fade to Black" – 7:44
  3. "Last Caress" /"Am I Evil?" /"Battery" – 11:59

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