Wherever I May Roam

"Wherever I May Roam" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in October 1992 as the fourth single from their eponymous fifth album, Metallica. It reached number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, as well as in Denmark, Finland and Norway.

"Wherever I May Roam"
Single by Metallica
from the album Metallica
B-side
ReleasedOctober 19, 1992[1]
RecordedApril 1991 at One on One Studios, Los Angeles, California
GenreHeavy metal
Length6:44
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Metallica singles chronology
"Nothing Else Matters"
(1992)		 "Wherever I May Roam"
(1992)		 "Sad but True"
(1993)
Music video
"Wherever I May Roam" on YouTube

Music

All stringed instruments featured in this song, both guitars and basses, are tuned to standard tuning. The original recording of the song is notable for its interesting instrumentation: Asian instruments such as a gong and sitar-like-guitar feature, along with an overdubbed Warwick twelve-string bass. This instrument was only used for effect during the intro to emphasize several accented notes and then a standardly tuned 4-string bass was used as the main bass instrument throughout the remainder of the recording.

The song is performed frequently during the band's live concerts, and was performed with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Michael Kamen) on the live S&M and its companion DVD, as well as the 2019 S&M2. When performed live, the band has always relied on their original sitar recording for the intro (the band enters on the first accented note to dramatic effect); however, for the S&M concerts guitarist Kirk Hammett utilized a Danelectro electric sitar for the intro before switching to his ESP electric guitar.

The music video featured clips from Metallica behind the scenes and in concert, during their Wherever We May Roam Tour.

Demo

The song's demo was recorded in Lars Ulrich's home musical studio "Dungeon" on August 13, 1990.

Track listings

US single

  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:42
  2. "Fade to Black" (live) – 7:43

International single

  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:43
  2. "Fade to Black" (live) – 7:43
  3. "Wherever I May Roam" (demo) – 5:35

International digipak single

  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:45
  2. "Last Caress" (live)/"Am I Evil?" (live)/"Battery" (live) – 11:59

Japanese EP

  1. "Wherever I May Roam" – 6:44
  2. "Fade to Black" (live) – 7:44
  3. "Last Caress" (live)/"Am I Evil?" (live)/"Battery" (live) – 11:59

Charts
Chart (1992–1993) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 35
Denmark (IFPI)[4] 2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[5] 19
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[6][7] 2
France (SNEP)[8] 28
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 30
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 22
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 8
Norway (VG-lista)[14] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 25
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 82
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[18] 2

References
  1. Metallica. "Wherever I May Roam". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  2. "Australian-charts.com – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  4. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 49. December 5, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  5. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 44. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  6. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  7. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9 no. 51/52. December 19, 1992. p. 43. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. "Lescharts.com – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Wherever I May Roam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  11. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 49, 1992" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  13. "Charts.nz – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  14. "Norwegiancharts.com – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam". VG-lista.
  15. "Swedishcharts.com – Metallica – Wherever I May Roam". Singles Top 100.
  16. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  17. "Metallica Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  18. "Metallica Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
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