[moehoward]

"...Illegal file sharing is a violation of their copyright, why should they want their stuff distributed for free."

Yes, agreed. But ironic none the less that now they/he are on the same side of the fence as the corporations that would not return their/his phone calls before. Do not forget, when this and other bands started they "salt the market" with thousands of free records. I am willing to bet had the Internet been around, MP3's would have been given away instead, and then the plug promptly pulled upon signing with a big label.

[discostu]

It was (and probably still is) a great way to be heard for new bands looking for followings, Metallica doesn't need that anymore, now they've got mortages and car payments and alimonies. Twenty years has a habit of changing things.