--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first gig with Metallica was at San…" description: "\"My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State Penitentiary.\" — Robert Trujillo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png" --- # My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State… ![“My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State Penitentiary.” quote by Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png) > “My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State Penitentiary.” [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He recounts his early performance with the band at a prison, highlighting an unexpected venue for a debut gig. **In simple terms:** First Metallica show was at a prison. Key Takeaway Embrace unconventional opportunities. Themes music career unexpected venues Mood reflective inspirational Type anecdotal career When to use this quote - band rehearsal - tour planning - career milestones - public perception Key Concepts performance historical context risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How did playing at a prison shape his view of performance? - What can artists learn from unconventional venues? A Different Perspective Success may depend on audience receptivity in atypical settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Gig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gig/) [Metallica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metallica/) [Penitentiary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penitentiary-421829/) [Quentin State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quentin-state-6074909/) [San](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/san/) [State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state/) [State Penitentiary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-penitentiary-3062419/) ## Related quotes > [“IN ALL THE YEARS I’ve spent here at Salton Sea State Penitentiary, I swear I never met a scarier man than Big Pete. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-graham/in-all-the-years-i-ve-spent-here-at-salton-sea-state-penitentiary-i/) [Joshua Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-graham/) > [“Infiltrating the records of a state penitentiary as well as the state and federal court systems was much more fun than deciphering art. -Phil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/infiltrating-the-records-of-a-state-penitentiary-as-well-as-the-state/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [I grew to manhood in the Ohio State Penitentiary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-himes/i-grew-to-manhood-in-the-ohio-state-penitentiary/) [Chester Himes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-himes/) > [“This happened in 1932, when the state penitentiary was still at Cold Mountain. And the electric chair was there, too, of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/this-happened-in-1932-when-the-state-penitentiary-was-still-at-cold/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I remember when I was probably about ten years old I had a pen pal, and writing letters back and forth with him was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-remember-when-i-was-probably-about-ten-years-old-i-had-a-pen-pal/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [With Metallica, it's hard. I tend to like it all, but the older stuff, when we get into the deeper cuts, it really excites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/with-metallica-it-s-hard-i-tend-to-like-it-all-but-the-older-stuff/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [One thing about being in Metallica is I've always felt challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/one-thing-about-being-in-metallica-is-i-ve-always-felt-challenged/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I always say, 'Hey, I'm in Metallica, but I wasn't on the Black Album.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-always-say-hey-i-m-in-metallica-but-i-wasn-t-on-the-black-album/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [When Lars said, 'We want you to be in Metallica,' I was blown away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/when-lars-said-we-want-you-to-be-in-metallica-i-was-blown-away/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > ['Tallica Parking Lot' is, basically, roughly about a four-minute animated short which is centered around the parking lot of Metallica, and that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/tallica-parking-lot-is-basically-roughly-about-a-four-minute-animated/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I think every Metallica album is unique in its own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-think-every-metallica-album-is-unique-in-its-own-way/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [In a lot of ways, Metallica is like a fusion band. It's not necessarily jazz or any of that, but the music is grooving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/in-a-lot-of-ways-metallica-is-like-a-fusion-band-it-s-not-necessarily/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [We absolutely cherish our kids. But the fact that we all have them - it's definitely created an additional bond. It's not just Metallica…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/we-absolutely-cherish-our-kids-but-the-fact-that-we-all-have-them-it/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/if-forced-to-choose-between-the-penitentiary-and-the-white-house-for/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [If it wasn't for baseball, I'd be in either the penitentiary or the cemetery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babe-ruth/if-it-wasn-t-for-baseball-i-d-be-in-either-the-penitentiary-or-the/) [Babe Ruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babe-ruth/) ## More by Robert Trujillo > [Sometimes artists die young, and we don't know exactly why. I think that, in life, you have these special individuals, whether it's Jimi Hendrix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/sometimes-artists-die-young-and-we-don-t-know-exactly-why-i-think/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [Writing a Metallica song is a journey and a process, and it takes time, but that's what's special about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/writing-a-metallica-song-is-a-journey-and-a-process-and-it-takes-time/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I've played with the best drummers in rock, ranging from Josh Freese to Brooks Wackerman to even Dave Lombardo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-ve-played-with-the-best-drummers-in-rock-ranging-from-josh-freese/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [If you choose to take care of yourself, you're going to get more mileage for your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/if-you-choose-to-take-care-of-yourself-you-re-going-to-get-more/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [When I was younger, I was trying to create from attitude more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/when-i-was-younger-i-was-trying-to-create-from-attitude-more-than/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [With the fretless bass, you have a different tone and different sound, a different dynamic to the instrument, so you can really make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/with-the-fretless-bass-you-have-a-different-tone-and-different-sound/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I'm always pulling and really feeding off of my inspirations. I think most musicians do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-m-always-pulling-and-really-feeding-off-of-my-inspirations-i-think/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [It's very important to us, family, and the balance of family within the band is probably the most important. Metallica is important, but when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/it-s-very-important-to-us-family-and-the-balance-of-family-within-the/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > ['Mama I'm Coming Home' is one song that I think is incredible. One of his best songs ever written. Lemmy wrote the lyrics to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mama-i-m-coming-home-is-one-song-that-i-think-is-incredible-one-of/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [My father had a friend who actually had a hollow-body bass guitar and didn't work through an amp, but because it was hollow body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-father-had-a-friend-who-actually-had-a-hollow-body-bass-guitar-and/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [Flamenco was probably the first music that I may have heard as a baby, because my father played flamenco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/flamenco-was-probably-the-first-music-that-i-may-have-heard-as-a-baby/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [Mike Clark, who's a really amazing surfer, got me back into surfing. I surfed a lot from '82 to '86, and then I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/mike-clark-who-s-a-really-amazing-surfer-got-me-back-into-surfing-i/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [I like that Metallica has found a way to have these non-pedestrian arrangements but then the vocal melody is strong and intense. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-like-that-metallica-has-found-a-way-to-have-these-non-pedestrian/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [We see kids out there on their parent's shoulders rocking out. And that's really special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/we-see-kids-out-there-on-their-parent-s-shoulders-rocking-out-and/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) > [A lot of the hardcore fans wanna hear the deep cuts - songs like 'Orion' or maybe like a 'Disposable Heroes' - you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/a-lot-of-the-hardcore-fans-wanna-hear-the-deep-cuts-songs-like-orion/) [Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) [Explore all 100 Robert Trujillo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/) ## More First quotes > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [I watched the movie 'What We Do in the Shadows' in a packed theater when it first came out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-dacosta/i-watched-the-movie-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-in-a-packed-theater/) [Nia DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-dacosta/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [The first draft is usually junk. 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I was about 12 when I won my first boxing match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-parker/i-first-got-into-boxing-when-i-was-quite-young-i-was-about-12-when-i/) [Joseph Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-parker/) [Browse all 9,159 First quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State Penitentiary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Trujillo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-quentin-state-penitentiary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "First" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-quentin-state-penitentiary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/robert-trujillo-5752_first_my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-q_3224493.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My first gig with Metallica was at San Quentin State Penitentiary.” — Robert Trujillo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Trujillo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My first gig with Metallica was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-quentin-state-penitentiary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/my-first-gig-with-metallica-was-at-san-quentin-state-penitentiary/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```