As plans were been made to go into the recording studio in 2001 by famous US band Metallica, their bass guitarist Jason Newstad left the band due as he put it to A physical damage I have done to myself over years playing in Metallica'. When in July 2001 James Hetfiled, front man of the Metallica checked into a rehab due to alcoholism and other addictions, the band was rumoured to be finished.
However, guys resumed their professional activity resolving to hire a therapist. It was rather a non-standard approach, but an efficient one. In the result the Metallica has re-established its measure of equilibrium. James Hetfield eventually returned to the band and plaid only four hours a day in a presence of his therapist Phil Towle, who was commissioned to teach guys verbal communication and prevent from fighting. Sincere talks with Towle enabled band mates to free the feelings of fear, rivalry, envy, betrayal, hatred.
These talks were documented for the movie 'Some Kind of Monster', directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sonowski. The film exposed to fans that the Metallica had sought the guidance of a therapist, Phil Towle, to deal with a vast amount of the band's inner turmoil. The film was well-received by critics, who claimed the it is interesting for both fans of the Metallica, and other people, as it reflects relations within the band among strong art personalities and proves the notion of rock-idol is a non-credible fiction.
The band mates, themselves, believe the experiment to be successful, as it posed as the only chance to save the band. According to front man James Hetfield, it's never late to launch negotiations attempts. The ex-bass guitarist entered the band 20 years ago, however, relations among band mates were strained as they refused to communicate and understand each other. The Metallica was between the choices of embarking on a therapist service, or finish the band.
The results are obvious. The therapist was paid 50,000 USD monthly to transfer Metallica on an absolutely different art level. The Metallica's large-scaled fan-base is ever happy, the band succeeded to survive.
