Jason Newsted Thinks Lars Ulrich is “Way Ahead of You in Most Things”
Ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted is nearly 17 years removed from his time with the band, but he’s still got nothing but love and respect for his former bandmates. At least, he’s able to keep things civil, unlike other bands and their former four-stringers.
During a recent interview with comedian Dean Delray on the Let There Be Talk podcast (transcribed by Blabbermouth), Newsted specifically sung the praises of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who’s regularly the subject of a lot of ridicule in the metal community for what many fans perceive to be a lackluster ability at drums in his older age.
“Anybody that says that is a fucking idiot. They have no idea what they’re talking about. The depth of this guy, his foresight, his comprehension of what the hell was going on when he was 21, 22, 23. Seriously?
“So if he can’t play the same fill as Dave Lombardo or whoever the fuck you pick for today, so what? Look at the scoreboard, motherfucker. Do not talk shit about that guy. He’s way ahead of you in most things, I promise you that — I promise you. If we wouldn’t have had him and his ability to anticipate, to predict, to know geography, to understand what country and what city and what did what at what time and all this stuff, no way Metallica would be what they were. No way! So you need to get ahold of yourselves because there’s way more to it than just being able to hit a snare drum.
“The demand [on the musicians] back when Jimi Hendrix was playing and Black Sabbath started touring or whatever, the band came out, smoked some hash, played the songs, got paid a little bit, had some beers, chased a girl, went on their way. That filled their whole plate. There was a ‘Paranoid’ video that they agreed to do for one second; they put a bunch of oil behind them or whatever. That [would have taken no more than] a couple of hours in his day. Now, or even — shit — 20-something years ago, or 30 perhaps, that much of the plate right there would be filled with the things we just spoke of: you learned your instrument, you played in tune, you tried to sing, you remember what’s coming next and memorize your shit. And then this chunk is the videos, and then this chunk is the interviews, and then that chunk is that thing, then that chunk is that thing, that chunk is meetings, that chunk is lawyers, that chunk is depositions. And then you’ve got that time for your wife. That’s what’s real.
“So if anybody wants to talk about, ‘Oh, yeah, I got this. I could do that. Could you? Could you, really? I don’t think so, man.”
There’s no denying that when it comes to the non-music side of things, it’s obvious that Lars runs that shit. Dude’s got a mind for business — it just so happens his business is running the biggest metal band in the world.
Still, there’s something to be said about Lars’ playing these days. No one’s going to assail the man for his insane work in the pre-Black Album days, but dude’s basic, practically four-on-the-floor approach to writing beats these days leaves something to be desired.
…Just don’t say that in front of Jason, apparently.
See what Newsted is talking about by catching Ulrich and the rest of Metallica on tour this summer; get tickets here (the full list of dates can be found below the video).
METALLICA
M72 WORLD TOUR 2023-2024
Saturday, April 29 2023 – Amsterdam NL – Johan Cruijff Arena [Tickets]
Wednesday, May 17 2023 – Paris FR – Stade de France* [Tickets]
Friday, May 19 2023 – Paris FR – Stade de France [Tickets]
Friday, May 26 2023 – Hamburg DE – Volksparkstadion [Tickets]
Sunday, May 28 2023 – Hamburg DE – Volksparkstadion [Tickets]
Friday, June 16 2023 – Gothenburg SE – Ullevi Stadium** [Tickets]
Sunday, June 18 2023 – Gothenburg SE – Ullevi Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 4 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 6 2023 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 11 2023 – Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique [Tickets]
Sunday, August 13 2023 – Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique [Tickets]
Friday, August 18 2023 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 20 2023 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 25 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 27 2023 – Inglewood, CA – SoFi Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, September 1 2023 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, September 3, 2023 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, November 3, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center [Tickets]
Sunday, November 5, 2023 – St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center [Tickets]
Friday, November 10, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field [Tickets]
Sunday, November 12, 2023 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field [Tickets]
Friday, May 24 2024 – Munich DE – Olympiastadion [Tickets]
Sunday, May 26 2024 – Munich DE – Olympiastadion [Tickets]
Friday, June 7 2024 – Helsinki FI – Olympic Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, June 9 2024 – Helsinki FI – Olympic Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, June 14 2024 – Copenhagen DK – Parken Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, June 16 2024 – Copenhagen DK – Parken Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, July 5 2024 – Warsaw PL – PGE Narodowy [Tickets]
Sunday, July 7 2024 – Warsaw PL – PGE Narodowy [Tickets]
Friday, July 12 2024 – Madrid ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano [Tickets]
Sunday, July 14 2024 – Madrid ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano [Tickets]
Friday, August 2 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 4 2024 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 9 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field [Tickets]
Sunday, August 11 2024 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field [Tickets]
Friday, August 16 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 18 2024 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 23 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium [Tickets]
Sunday, August 25 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium [Tickets]
Friday, August 30 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field [Tickets]
Sunday, September 1 2024 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field [Tickets]
Friday, September 20 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol*** [Tickets]
Sunday, September 22 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol [Tickets]
Friday, September 27 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol*** [Tickets]
Sunday, September 29 2024 – Mexico City MX – Foro Sol [Tickets]
Show 1 Support Europe: Architects & Mammoth WVH**
Show 2 Support Europe: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
*Five Finger Death Punch/Ice Nine Kills play show 1 in Paris, Architects & Mammoth WVH play show 2 in Paris
**Volbeat replaces Architects on show 1 in Gothenburg
Show 1 Support North America: Pantera & Mammoth WVH***
Show 2 Support North America: Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills
***Greta Van Fleet replaces Pantera on show 1 both weekends in Mexico City
