I would like to publicly recognize Bob Rock's contributions to Metallica and reinforce that he is one of a great set of producers that have had the opportunity to shape the sound of modern popular music. His work with Metallica was and is important to defining and utilizing new studio techniques as well as guiding composition for a genre that needed and still needs a makeover.

More specifically, I would like to recognize St. Anger as an album that went to the edges of what is considered Metallica and scared everyone involved, expecially the fans. A new direction was paved however, due to a widely unpopular response, was quickly stepped over. This album showed something that no one had heard or expected from Metallica and embodied who the musicians have become. Its rejection by everyone, including the band, is only testament to the resounding fact that Metallica have matured/changed/grown past their genre. Make no mistake, though, the aggression levels are higher than ever. And it is more of this I think heavy metal needs. Less a return to classics, and more the opening of a new dimension in aggressive music.

This is also, most certainly, a response to those who criticized Bob Rock and his contributions to Metallica. You first need to recognize that you cannot blame one person for the fate of Metallica. Each individual contributes to his or her own future and in this case Bob Rock was just one of the contributors to Metallica. For those who dislike a particular album or several in the career of a band they have come to support, you need to look further into who that band actually has become. The members of Metallica, like anyone, are constantly changing. Personalities, attitudes, and musical interests are all in flux. It may be easy to associate the appearance of Bob Rock with a new sound in Metallica's output, but the point is that a new sound was going to happen regardless. Bob Rock was just there to receive it.

It is with this ambition that I would also like to publicly apologize for the hurtful comments that have been directed at Bob Rock, and recognize a producer and a band that should no longer be separated.