James Hetfield’s Marshall Super Lead Model 1959

For Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All, James Hetfield relied on a heavily modified Super Lead Model 1959SLP amp, paired with a Marshall 1960B 4×12 speaker cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30s speakers, The amp was customized by California-based amp expert Jose Arredondo, who made a name himself in the 80s for modifying the amps of legends like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai, specializing in gain-boosting modifications.

Unfortunately, Hetfield’s prized Jose-modded amp was stolen in January 1984, along with other gear, outside The Channel — a music venue located in Boston, Massachusetts. The theft was a major blow to James, and it’s long been speculated that the emotional toll contributed to the somber tone of the song “Fade to Black.” Hetfield later confirmed that this event did indeed influence the mood of the track.

It’s kind of wild to imagine that for decades, some random person—or more likely, multiple people—may have unknowingly owned a Marshall amp that was used to record Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All. Given that it was stolen along with other gear in 1984, the amp likely passed through different hands, with its owners completely unaware of its historical significance.

After all this time, it’s highly improbable that we’ll ever see the amp resurface. It’s just as likely that whoever owns it now has no idea of its connection to metal history.