METALLICA Bassist Says RICK RUBIN Is Still 'A Strong Possibility' To Produce Next Album

Sergio Pereira of South Africa's Muse magazine conducted an interview with METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo last month when the band returned to South Africa for three shows — one in Johannesburg and two in Cape Town.

Muse: Would you ever be interested in recording with a South African producer in South Africa?

Trujillo: With Kevin Shirley [grins]?

Muse: Perhaps. I don't think Mutt Lange is available right now. [laughs]

Trujillo: I think that's been pursued [smirk]… maybe. Right now at this phase of the game, we're concentrating on great riffs, potential songs and ideas – it's great to be able to take a break from all of that and come to South Africa. We're going to Asia in August — and that's exciting. [Then], we're going to South America in October… First things first, we've got to start getting our blueprints for songs together and make sure they're the best possible — and then we see what producers are available. We made a great album with Rick Rubin the last time — that's a strong possibility still. Obviously, there are no guarantees in anything in this day and age, but if there is a great producer, who has something to bring to METALLICA, we will investigate it.

Muse: Since you've been to South Africa, have you spread the word about it to other bands?

Trujillo: Yeah. I've been texting a lot of my friends who have been like, "I've never been to South Africa…" I tell them straight: the fans are great; the people are passionate; if you get there when the weather is nice, it's like Southern California — the water is a little bit cold, but that's okay, bring a wetsuit [laughs]; and watch out for sharks [bigger laughs].

Muse: What attracted you to return to South Africa again?

Trujillo: The promoters obviously wanted us to come back and brought us over again. You gotta understand that when there is the demand, you realize that people do care. It has to come from the fans. Like the show tonight, it is pretty special for us and that doesn't happen to every band on the planet. We're still lucky to be around and relevant in a lot of people's eyes. To look out in the crowd and see young kids out there, too: teenagers and kids, who were, like, 5 years old when we came out here last time, headbanging is really exciting. So, yeah, just make sure the fans spread the word and continue keeping us relevant.

Read the entire interview from Muse magazine.