Lars Ulrich of Metallica: 'We're Not Sitting There Thinking Retirement'

Lars Ulrich of Metallica: ‘We’re Not Sitting There Thinking Retirement’

2018-11-01

Photo by Ken Settle, story by Anne Erickson

Don’t worry, Metallica fans. The band isn’t planning to retire at any point soon

It’s difficult to ignore the fact a number of classic artists are calling it quits, including Slayer, Kiss and Ozzy Osbourne. So, are the metal men of Metallica considering retirement yet? According to drummer Lars Ulrich, the answer is a solid no.

Asked what piece of advice he would give to the 1981 Lars Ulrich if he could go back in time, the drummer said:

“A lot of people are retiring, and we feel very energized and rejuvenated,” Ulrich told Jaxon of the 93.3 WMMR Rocks. “I mean, we wanna go (a) long (time). We hope we can get another 20, 25 years out of (Metallica). I don’t know what it’s gonna look like, I don’t know what it’s gonna sound like, but that’s in our heads. So we’re not sitting there thinking retirement or this or that; we’re sort of more the opposite.”

“So I would say, for us, everything we do is kind of a long game,” he added. “And back then, when you were 17, you only think of, like, the next five minutes. ‘Where is the next beer? Whoo!’ So that’s kind of different mentality nowadays.”

Ulrich added that the band is surprised — in a good way — about the number of younger and female fans who are coming out to their shows.

“It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “There’s more younger kids at our shows than I can ever remember. Half the audience is under 20. And it also feels more like it’s (a) 50-50 (divide) between boys and girls now, which obviously (wasn’t true) 20, 30 years ago. So it’s amazing how rock and roll and harder rock and what we’re doing just continues to appeal to…”

He added, “I don’t know if it’s a rite of passage, but it feels like it continues rather than regressing; it feels like it’s actually spreading. And half the people that are coming to our shows are seeing Metallica for the first time. It’s pretty awesome.”

Metallica’s WorldWired tour in support of their current album, “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct,” is scheduled to run into 2019.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.