Do you think Metallica’s Some Kind of Monster music documentary hurt the band’s image?

Did it hurt their image? Probably. Will they lose many fans? Probably not. They've become iconic. A certain portion of their fan base will jump up to support them no matter what they do.

Metallica, in a way, are victims of their own fame. They have become so popular that everything they do now attracts a spotlight. Every album they release now is so calculated and over-thought that if fails to contain nearly enough sincerity. During the Alternative Rock era, they released Load. During the Nu-Metal era, they released St. Anger. During the recent Thrash Revival, they released Death Magnetic. Then they make a horrific album with Lou Reed, which I can only assume was a failed attempt to appeal to hipsters. They seem to be chasing after every trend in a calculated effort to hold on to their popularity.

In the 1980's, what appealed to Metallica's fans was their sincerity. In an era when bands like Bon Jovi and Motley Crue came out on stage dressed as clowns, and played half-assed music, Metallica came out on stage in jeans and t-shirts and played kick-*ss music that was real. They weren't concerned with maintaining their image by grasping at trends. They didn't care about their image. They cared about their music, and that is what appealed to their early fans.

The movie, while it is not necessarily very flattering, is another odd chapter in a band that was so sincere and so loved by a few die-hard fans early on, but is so calculating and iconic now.

that documentary was not good for metallica. far too much about emotions and stuff for them. it made it onto complex magazine's greatest rock music fails. somewhere around 10th biggest rock music fail of all time. however, i don't think true fans would stop listening to them for that, and people who only casually listen to them would be less likely to watch their documentaries. so no. they probably wouldn't have lost lots of fans. if anything they have done has made them lose fans, it's lulu. (although, again, true fans can just admit they made a mistake and move on. however, casual fans will listen to it, and some may stop listening to them for it. though i hope they don't, because they are still great just because that one album failed)

I actually liked them even more after watching the documentary.

It makes them seem more human to me, with all their faults and weaknesses displayed to the world.

I think they lost touch with some of the fans who've been into them back in the day though.

Maybe a few fans but they weren't really fans. True fans are the ones that will stick with Metallica all the way. IMO their "strong" or "tough" image was ruined, it looked like they've gone to the pop punk side

That band lost me when they joined forces with RIAA and passed all that anti piracy junk that actually did no one any good, they are in it for the money, that is cool, the price they pay is what they have earned.

When the image or perception becomes the talent, then it is for naught.

I definitely think the less dedicated fans were put off by the film, but for people like me, it made me see the human side of them. They weren't just rock stars, but people too.