In 1988, Disaster Area started playing around Toronto, Canada, doing mostly original songs and a few Metallica covers. By 1991, the word spread into the U.S.A. and agents were calling, wanting to bring the band to the U.S., to do a Metallica Tribute. Disaster Area wanted to get into the U.S. to get some exposure for their original material. Disaster Area played mainly original songs, so in an effort to preserve the original band name and original music, another name was chosen for their tribute to Metallica. That name was " BATTERY. "

" Master of Puppets " , which happens to be one of Metallica's best albums ever, begins with the song, " BATTERY. " Also, " BATTERY " was chosen because of the heaviness of the song itself and because the band wanted to be associated with the heavier side of Metallica. And what a song to have to try to play every night!!!So the tribute band was called " BATTERY " and the original band is " DISASTER AREA. "

The band also requested that " Disaster Area " be the opening band for the tribute band, " Battery. " This was done to ensure that " Disaster Area " not be pushed aside. " BATTERY " was only created to help get " DISASTER AREA " exposed to the U.S. market and get them a record deal.

So, in September 1991 " BATTERY " & D/A set out to the U.S.{after months of paper work for work visas and permits} The band at that time consisted of Harvey Lewis, Laurence Langley, Teague Purtell and Kevin Wimberley. Kevin was replaced in April 1992 by Phil M. " BATTERY " then toured everywhere in North America. In the U.S. they toured from Maine to California, and from Florida to Minnesota. In their home country of CANADA they toured from Quebec City to Vancouver Island. Everywhere they went they played Metallica & spread the music of " DISASTER AREA. "

During the Metallica and Guns & Roses Stadium Tour, James Hetfield got burnt in a pyro explosion at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. " BATTERY " was watching the show when it happened and left to go play their own show. One week later " BATTERY " was in Cleveland, Ohio, and received a call from Q-Prime Management. They said that " Lars " wanted the rhythm guitar player from " BATTERY " {Harvey Lewis} to fly to Denver, Colorado, to audition to play rhythm guitar, while James only sang, for the next 4-6 weeks of that tour. Seven guys were invited to the audition, John Marshall (Metal Church) was one of them. That was the first time that " BATTERY " was recognised by Metallica.

When Metallica returned to Montreal to do the make-up shows, " BATTERY " was also playing in Montreal. The day before the 1st of 2 shows Metallica was doing at the Montreal Forum, " BATTERY " was invited to a taping of an interview that Lars was doing in the studios of Musique Plus(a french video station). After the taping Lars, Harvey Lewis, and Laurence Langley (the Battery drummer) talked briefly where Lars set " BATTERY " up with complimentary tickets, backstage passes and Snake-pit passes. After Metallica's show, " BATTERY " hung and met Metallica, except James. That was the 2nd meeting of the 2 bands.

The 1st show of Metallica's " Shit in the Sheds " Summer Tour began in Buffalo, New York at Darien Lake on a Monday Night. " BATTERY " played in Buffalo on Saturday night and guess who showed up? Lars & James,plus security, plus entourage, plus etc..... Lars & James hung out, chatted and drank with " Battery " before jumping back in their stretch limo. A great night for the band and fans alike. This was the 3rd Metallica ordeal for " BATTERY " which was written about in the Feb.'97 issue of " METAL EDGE " Magazine.

Over the next couple of years many Metallica fans were able to catch " BATTERY " somewhere live in the U.S. and Canada. They obviosly liked what they saw & heard and told Metallica about " BATTERY. " So much so, in fact, that Lars wrote an editorial in " SO WHAT " (Volume 2, Issue 4,) the Metallica Fan Club official magazine, mentioning " BATTERY. "

Before the start of the " LOAD " Tour, Metallica played a private show in Toronto, Canada, for Metallica fan club members only, where Harvey Lewis was in attendance. After the show Harvey ended up partying with Lars, James, and Kirk at a small downtown Toronto club.

Then on the " LOAD " tour in Louisville, Kentucky,HArvey Lewis attended Metallica's show and was given a backstage pass where he later hung out with James.

" BATTERY " has attended other Metallica shows and the relationship with Metallica still continues. Maybe they'll meet again on this tour in 1998. Remember.... " BATTERY " Master of Metallica and where there's " BATTERY, " there's " DISASTER AREA. " Look for " BATTERY " anywhere in North America.

If you meet Metallica, tell them we said " HEY "
Check out clips of our original music.
Click on TUNES in the " DISASTER AREA " webpage.
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