When Cliff Burton suddenly passes away in a tragic touring accident in Dörap, Sweden his bandmates struggle to go on. Sequestering themselves in Jan Forge’s Stockholm studio the three remaining members of Metallica try to work thought the trauma the only way they know how: by drinking and ripping though old Motörhead sets. As the days turn to week and then months, the emotional toll of losing their soft-spoken giant and friend continues to grow.
Friends, rivals, and contemporaries make the trip to Stockholm trying to help James, Kirk, and Lars deal with the pain, anger, and sadness of their loss, all culminating in a one night meeting of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. But, can old wounds truly heal? Can Dave Mustane forgive his former bandmates for unceremoniously kicking him out of the band? Will Kerry King’s jealousy over the relative mainstream success of Metallica and Megadeth cast a pall over everything? And why is Scott Ian wearing a Public Enemy t-shirt?
Just as everyone is about to explode, the godfather arrives. Glenn Danzig and Cliff Burton always had a special bond and Glenn came to pay his respect and ensure that Cliff’s body was properly prepared for his spiritual voyage. Now, Glenn has to play therapist to the four most influential speed metal bands in a night of drinking, fighting, and healing in this 1980s counterpart to One Night in Miami. The dawn breaks and the bands leave the studio with a newfound trust and depth of friendship, Glenn turns the lights off and silently mouths “Later, killer.”
As the most epic version of (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth closes out the credits we fade back to Jan’s studio 20 years later. And older, dying Jan tells his son the tale of how that one night in his studio saved speed metal. The camera slowly pushes into his son as he smiles and looks at a photo of Cliff wearing the Crimson Ghost t-shirt.