METALLICA's LARS ULRICH: 'If There's Anything We Love In This Band, It's Ambiguity'

Andrew Perry of The Telegraph recently conducted separate interviews with METALLICA members Lars Ulrich (drums),James Hetfield (guitar, vocals) and Robert Trujillo (bass). A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On the interaction between Lars and James:

Hetfield: "Lars and I are complete opposites. When we got together as a band, we didn't know what we wanted to do in life, we just loved the same music. We were misfits in life, and some of the fans that joined us were feeling the same way — not that you have to have an identity crisis, or a family that's horrible. But it was about — you're welcome to come into the METALLICA family, if you're not feeling a part of the world."

On how their new movie, "Metallica Through The Never", will be received by their fans:

Hetfield: "What does it mean for our careers? We don't care. We've never really cared, but at this point we really don't. We're artists, and we're driving this train — we can drive it straight into the wall if we want to."

Ulrich: "So far, everybody's got a different opinion about it, which is great, because if there's anything we love in this band, it's ambiguity. We're not trying to force some next-level message down your throat. Without sounding too artsy, the best art is handed to you to do with what you want."

On the progress of the songwriting sessions for METALLICA's next album:

Trujillo: "[There were some preparatory sessions in autumn 2012] what I call the process of elimination, where we go through all the riffs and ideas we've all had, and we're 80 percent of the way through that. The plan is next year to move forward and start recording."

"METALLICA always takes on the challenge, and the fans can take what they want from it. At the end of the day, we always get them back."

On METALLICA's internal chemistry, 10 years on from "Some Kind Of Monster":

Hetfield: "There are struggles here and there. With Lars and I — we talk about a lot of stuff, like being a dad. We still push each other's buttons every once in a while. ‘Yep, that one still works — no need to go there again!' But it's good not to be afraid of conflict, too, not to avoid it. I think we can recognize it now — OK, we know how to control this."

Read the entire interview at The Telegraph.