Formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, Metallica has become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold nearly 100 million albums worldwide and playing to millions of fans the world over. They have garnered numerous awards and accolades, including seven Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and three MTV Video Music Awards. In addition, their 1991 album, Metallica has been awarded the prestigious "Diamond Award" from the Recording Industry Association of America, given to those albums with U.S. sales of 10 million or more.