Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich of Metallica carry out throughout World Citizen Pageant 2022. Their new album, 72 Seasons, is out now.
Theo Wargo/Getty Photos for World Citizen
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Theo Wargo/Getty Photos for World Citizen
Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich of Metallica carry out throughout World Citizen Pageant 2022. Their new album, 72 Seasons, is out now.
Theo Wargo/Getty Photos for World Citizen
Greater than 40 years after they shaped, the music of Metallica remains to be resonating with new audiences.
Simply final 12 months, their 1986 monitor “Grasp of Puppets” entered the Billboard charts for the primary time in its historical past after showing on Stranger Issues.
Months later, a string cowl of their tune “Nothing Else Issues” appeared on The Addams Household spin-off collection Wednesday, standard amongst youthful viewers and the TikTok crowd.
However on their new file 72 Seasons, Metallica proves they’re nonetheless making impressed music for hardcore followers. For a metallic band with lots of its members approaching 60, that is no small feat.
NPR’s Ailsa Chang spoke with drummer Lars Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo about what retains that inventive spark lit in any case these years.
Grasp of Puppets on “Stranger Issues”.
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This has been flippantly edited for size and readability.
Interview highlights
On the endurance of older songs like “Grasp of Puppets”
TRUJILLO: For me, you recognize, Metallica’s at all times been what I name cutting-edge and sort of going towards the grain and taking probably the most grooving, heavy riffs. However then, swiftly, you get these sort of gear shifts, so to talk.
For me, earlier than I even joined the band, I used to be at all times motivated by Metallica’s music. In actual fact, I used to go operating up within the Santa Monica Mountains to Journey The Lightning — to the album. And that will encourage me for excursions with, really, Suicidal Tendencies, the band. So there’s one thing concerning the music that has every part you want and all of the elements.
On how their new album 72 Seasons is about revisiting the previous
ULRICH: I might spent loads of my time in these first 72 seasons of my life alone, sort of a misfit, sort of disenfranchised. And I feel a major a part of the rationale that I needed to be in a band was I needed to be in a bunch, a collective, a gang. I needed to belong to one thing larger than myself. And so all of us have our personal variations of that.
TRUJILLO: Your first 18 years, you recognize, you uncover love. You uncover heartache. But additionally, for me, rising up in Southern California, there have been issues like catching your first wave. Browsing. And it is similar to … wow.
Metallica: 72 Seasons (Official Music Video)
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On the issues Metallica has let go off of their previous to evolve as a band
ULRICH: I suppose the primary issues that come to thoughts is stuff round well being. Simply the late nights and the shenanigans — all which have just about all fallen to the wayside. The one factor that we additionally share is that, as we become older, we grow to be very comfy sharing who we’re to the world. And I get pleasure from it as a result of, when I’m on stage or representing the band, you do be ok with what you are contributing, and you recognize you are not letting your brothers down.
TRUJILLO: You grow to be, like, a faction. You grow to be part of the tribe. Lots of people can play. However on the similar time, you are touring collectively. The rehearsals, your dangle time, all that stuff — you recognize, the steadiness of it’s tremendous necessary.
Metallica carry out at Allegiant Stadium in February 2022 in Las Vegas.
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Metallica carry out at Allegiant Stadium in February 2022 in Las Vegas.
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On the band’s vulnerability and kindness, and the way it suits into the concept of metallic music
ULRICH: Properly, I do not take a look at it like vulnerability in metallic. I take a look at it as 4 guys who’re sharing an expertise collectively and have been for the higher a part of 40 years. And we play music, at first, that we actually get pleasure from. We love one another endlessly, and we get pleasure from enjoying music collectively. And the vulnerability and that transparency that we’re comfy with is one thing that we’re really fairly pleased with.
On when Metallica will know to cease making music
TRUJILLO: After we’re 120 years outdated (laughter) … nicely, let me simply say this: we love what we do. We love music a lot. I imply, it excites us. I at all times say, when Metallica will get within the room and places the guitars on or Lars will get behind the drums, it is enjoyable. And there is no scarcity of riffs and concepts. That is in all probability a blessing and a curse, and that is why you hear quite a bit within the music, as a result of there’s loads of great things, and it is only a good time.
ULRICH: You recognize, spiritually, I imply, this might, like Robert’s saying, go on endlessly. It is the elbows and the knees – that’s what could put a wrench in it will definitely. There’s clearly a sure physicality that it requires to play this music, however that does not really feel prefer it’s imminent. So excuse me, I received to run and get on my Peloton!
