I recently watched Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, a fascinating documentary, and I didn’t expect the movie to be relevant to me as a coach.
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You can have different opinions about heavy rock and Metallica, but the band members are undoubtedly leaders in their field. I was curious to watch a documentary about them, but I couldn’t have guessed what I’d actually see.
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The story unfolds in 2001 when director Joe Berlinger arranged to film Metallica during the recording of their new album St. Anger. When the crew arrived, the band was falling apart.
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The bassist had left, the members were constantly fighting, and frontman James Hetfield was battling alcoholism, eventually checking into rehab. The album recording was put on hold, and it seemed like the end of Metallica.
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At this point, Berlinger made an unusual suggestion: “Since I’m already here, let me continue filming what’s happening. I won’t interfere – maybe something interesting will come from it.”
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Surprisingly, the band agreed, not caring much at that point.
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The result?
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Berlinger stayed and filmed Metallica’s journey for 715 days.
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What I found particularly intriguing was that in 2001-2003, Metallica was saved from breaking up by…
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… working with a team coach!
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Realizing they couldn’t handle their crisis alone, the band brought in Phil Towle, a performance enhancement coach. Yes, that’s a real coaching niche.
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The film shows in detail how Phil worked with the band for two years, helping them face their fears, manage their anger, and find compromise.
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The sincerity and vulnerability captured in the film are shocking, and some die-hard fans were even disappointed. Instead of the typical image of tough rockers, viewers see ordinary people, with real fears and problems.
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They cry, fight, reconcile, and work hard with their coach to figure out questions like: “What emotion are you feeling now?” and “How can you express anger without offending your friend?”
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At the end of the movie, Metallica members clearly state: “We would have broken up if it wasn’t for working with a coach. He taught us how to communicate and work through conflicts.”
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Thanks to team coaching, Metallica still exists today, continuing to release albums and tour the world.
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This documentary highlights that team coaching is a powerful tool for groups connected by a common goal. Whether it’s a family, business, or band, relationships are at the core, and they succeed through developing emotional intelligence, understanding each other, finding compromise, and creating a shared vision for the future.
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Metallica paid their coach $40,000 a month for two years. But when the survival of your band and a multimillion-dollar business is at stake, I’d say that’s a fair price!
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The band Metallica in the kitchen of their studio with their coach Phil Towle. Still from the movie Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.
