Metallica Members

LARS ULRICH

One of metallica's co-founders,Lars is often called upon to serve as the band's spokesman.Talkative,insightful and often intensely serious,especially when discussing his band he can also be as wacky as the next metallicat when the situation calls for it.

Born and raised in Copenhagen,young Lars followed in the footsteps of his tennis pro father and competed seriously in the sport right up until his family moved to Los Angeles in1980.Upon realizing that his neighborhood alone was crawling with good tennis players,Lars abandoned it as a career and dove full-tilt into his other longtime passion:music,specifically drumming.Proficient on air-drums and hitting cardboard boxes with sticks since age 12,Lars talked his grandmother into buying him a drumkit in 1977 and practiced while fantasizing he was Deep Purples Ian Paice.

Once in L.A,Lars was dismayed to find that hardly anyone had heard of Iron Maiden,Saxon,Motorhead and other cool European metal favorites.He searched for a like-mined guitarist to jam with and found one James Hetfield,a guy who appreciated the finer things in metal.Some months later,they gave birth to Metallica in Lars garage.We doubt that the kid who dreamed of playing Wimbledon regrets the career change that has him now playing stadiums(not to mention crowds)of a different sort.

KIRK HAMMET 

Kirk Hammett has the distinction of being the most consistently cheerful member of metallica.Usually in a good mood and unfailingly genial,his sunny nature can belie the fact that he's a very serious,very accomplished guitar player.

In the late 60's, Kirks's older "hippie" brother turned him onto Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Led Zeppelin and the other happening sounds of that era.When brother Rick was away at school, young Kirk would pick up the guitar and attempt to play.He seriously began playing at age 15 and formed his first garage band "about two weeks later." Kirk, a friend who'd recently acquired a bass and another friend who sang all plugged into one amp in the bassist's garage. Their first set consisted of two songs: Hendrix's "wild thing" and "purple haze," including "15 minutes of horrible guitar soloing." Fittingly, the amp (borrowed from Kirks high school) blew up.

After school, Kirk took jobs in a warehouse and a Burger King in order to buy guitars and a amp. At age 20, he decided to take guitar lessons and studied with Joe Satriani for a few years, to refine his technique. In 1981, Kirk and drummer Tom Hunting formed Exodus. They gigged around local clubs and once played on the same bill with metallica right before the latter flew to New York to record their first LP. It was while metallica were out easy that they decided guitarist Dave Mustaine had to go. When Kirk received a call inviting him to join the band, he thought it was an April Fool's joke. No joke, Kirk flew to New York where he jammed with James, Cliff and Lars. Kirk remembers it being a strange situation because he didn't really know them and they weren't letting on what they thought of him. He realized that he was hired when he was included in the recording of Kill 'EM ALL. Casual beginning to what would be a momentous relationship. Kirks inventive leads and cool attitude are one quarter of what makes metallica great.

James Hetfield

Name: James Alan Hetfield.
DOB: 8/03/63.
Height: 6'2".
Weight: 180 lbs.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Home Town: San Francisco, CA.
Marital Status: Single
Musical Tastes:
Fav Musicians: Phil Lynott, Glenn Danzig, Alan Collins, Warren Haynes.
Fav Bands: Thin Lizzy, Gov't Mule, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Fav Songs: Honesty.
Musical Influences: To Come
Previous Bands: Obsession, Phantom Lord, and Leather Charm.
Other Info:
Hobbies: Hunting and Drinking.
Sports: Hockey.
Transportation: Chevy Blazer and a Dodge Ram Pick-Up.
Fav Movie: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
Fav TV: Andy Griffith and Police Squad.
Fav Actor: Clint Eastwood.
Fav Actress: Amber Lynn.
Fav Book: Dictionary.
Fav Food: Mexican, meat and potatos, and beer.
Former Jobs: Mover and sticker factory.

 JASON NEWSTED

On the surface, Jason Newsted sometimes seems the most serious member of metallica. In photos, his expression is often one of intense concentration; in interviews, he doesn't kid around much, with answers concise and to the point. He personifies the most dignified metallican.

Jason got his first bass at age 13 after being "corrupted" by Kiss, specifically Gene Simmons. He fooled around with it for about two months, then put it in his closet for five years. At age 18, excited by the sounds of Black Sabbath and Rush, he took it out again and started playing seriously. He joined a band of older guys who decided to seek their fortunes in California. Jason quit school to go with them, breaking his parents hearts (they have since forgiven him.) The boys got as far as Arizona before they ran out and all but Jason returned home. He stuck it out with dishwashing jobs, eventually hooking up with drummer Kelly Smith. They formed Flotsam & Jetsam, Arizona's premiere thrash band and released an LP, Doomsday For The Deceiver.

In the fall of 1986, metallica lost their bassist Cliff in a tragic tour bus accident. Jason was one of a few bass players recommended to them, so they asked him to "audition" (basically a day of eating, drinking and jamming with them.) Around 2 in the morning after conferring with James and Kirk, Lars casually asked, "you want a job?" In response, the thrilled Jason "screamed at the top of his lungs in the middle of this restaurant." After only a few days of rehearsal, Jason played his first gigs with metallica: two surprise "warm-up" sets at L.A's Country club. Immediately after, the band toured Japan and Europe. Cliff was a tough act to follow, but Jason did it admirably and with his own style.