Ron McGovney, Metallica’s original bassist, recently made a humble remark about his place in the band’s history. Posting on X, he shared a photo from Metallica’s 2011 Fillmore concert in San Francisco, which reunited the group’s early members, and joked that there were “too many bass players” in the shot, adding that Robert Trujillo was “the real bassist.”
Fans were quick to push back, reminding McGovney of his importance to Metallica’s early years. One noted that without him, “they had no ride,” while another said that if not for his contributions, the band might never have moved beyond playing bars. Many also expressed hope that the band had apologized for how he was treated.
McGovney joined Metallica in 1982, replacing bassist Dave Ellefson, and stayed for about 10 months. During his short tenure, he played on early recordings, including the No Life ’til Leather demo, which became a key factor in building the band’s fanbase and securing their first record deal. Though internal tensions and creative differences led to his departure opening the door for Cliff Burton to join McGovney’s role in shaping Metallica’s foundation remains undeniable.
