<p> <br />"Fade To Black" is a song by heavy metal band Metallica. The song was recorded for their second album, Ride the Lightning (1984). Some people consider the lyrical theme to be about a person who has decided to commit suicide; others do not share this view. It was written after almost all of their equipment, including a very rare amplifier, given to singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield by his mother just before she died, was stolen in Boston, MA, following a gig at the Channel Club on 14th January 1984. This event forced Metallica to borrow equipment from fellow tour band and friends, Anthrax, for the remainder of the tour. <br /><br />It was the first Ballad that Metallica released. It begins with an acoustic guitar introduction and becomes progressively heavier as the song goes on. <br /></p><p></p>
