Metallica Bass Player Reveals Surprising Second Career Choice
If it weren’t for being in a metal band like Metallica, at least one band member may have been in a totally different career. – Author: Scarlett Hunter, Photo from Ross Halfin
Metallica is one of the biggest rock bands in the world, if not the biggest, so they haven’t had to worry about a backup plan for a long time. The guys got their start very young, and Metallica took off fairly early, so the band members who have been with Metallica from the start have been able to make a music for a living for decades upon decades.
But, what is Metallica never happened? First of all, it would be a very different existence when it comes to music, because Metallica really helped shape the dominance of metal music in the 1980s, 1990s and beyond. They really brought the underground metal sound to the masses with “The Black Album.”
But, in addition to that, at least one Metallica member may have been in a totally different career if he hadn’t gone the route of making metal music.
Metallica Bassist Robert Trujillo’s Backup Plan
During episode 98 of “The Metallica Report,” band members James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo were asked some questions from listeners. They talked about a variety of things, but one listener asked what the guys would be doing to earn a living if they’ weren’t in Metallica.
Bass player Trujillo had an interesting response. One of his choices has something to do with music, and the other definitely does not.
“What would we be doing? Well, what would I be doing? I would — oh, man. It’s a good question,” he said, thinking a while, according to Blabbermouth. “I would probably continue to play music. I love songwriting, so I always write songs, even just for fun. It’s something that I do, so maybe I would get into songwriting, become an independent songwriter, maybe get into production.”
“The other thing that I actually originally started to do, my first job was in construction. So I always thought that maybe I would become a contractor,” he said. “I think that my skills as an organizer, a coordinator could help. I don’t like kind of lifting heavy things anymore.”
He added that when he was younger, “I could lift a couple sheets of drywall, no problem, up three flights of stairs. I did drywall. I did hardwood floors for a long time. Learning that stuff was great because now if I see a fixer-upper property or a house, I’m not afraid of it.”
Trujilo continued that he has always seen the potential of fixing up a house and can jump in with remodel or rebuild ideas, so he would ” probably be a contractor (and) something in the trades. I’d be a tradesman of sorts.”
Hetfield’s answer was more just about the music, saying that he’s still probably be trying to form Metallica. It not that, he “I would really be involved in bands. I’d be roading or working in a studio, hopefully helping make music somehow. Or graphic design. I love graphics.”
Hetfield added, “I love doing artwork. I also like doing trades stuff — craftsmanship with wood, with metal, building stuff. Maybe that would’ve turned into something too. But music is a gift I’ve been given, so I’d still be trying to kick some doors down and get into it somehow.”
Listen to the full episode below.
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