METALLICA's LARS ULRICH: 'We're Always Trying To Embrace The Musical Frontiers'

Bob Buchmann of San Diego's classic rock radio station 101 KGB conducted an interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich before the band's August 6 performance at Petco Park in San Diego, California. You can now watch the chat below. A couple of excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On METALLICA's "out-of-the-box" approach to new projects:

Lars: "We're always trying to challenge ourselves and we're always trying to embrace the musical frontiers. We're very curious people by nature — we like to turn over stones and see what's underneath 'em. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But, to me, that's the journey forward. There are some people in the rock world that want their bands a little more boxed in and playing it safe, and I respect that, but that's not us. We like to kind of run rampant and try to, like I said, go on new adventures. That's just who we are. So we're always up for any kind of musical endeavor, especially when they're, sort of, uncharted territory."

On what motivates artists like METALLICA, THE ROLLING STONES, Billy Joel and Paul McCartney to keep touring, even when they "don't need to":

Lars: "Why do you pick up a guitar in the first place? It gives you a sense of belonging to something. I understand the whole thing [about] we don't need to be doing it, but… and you don't need to do anything, but at the same time, you have one life [and] if you blink it, you'll miss it. You end up doing what's kind of in your DNA or whatever. METALLICA is the only band I've ever been in, METALLICA is the only thing I know. Obviously, there's lots of other things — family and other [interests] — but in terms of… This is what we always come back to. And the same thing with THE STONES — they're in their mid-70s and they do it 'cause they love it. And we love coming and connecting with people and sharing our time and playing music and doing all that. And we'll do it as long as we can. In our situation, there may be a physical limit for the shoulders and the necks and all that to give out, and that may be earlier — knock on wood — than some of those other bands that you mentioned. But we're gonna keep going [for as long as possible]."

The North American leg of METALLICA's "WorldWired" trek will hit stadiums in two more cities before ending in mid-August.

The next stop on the tour is Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on August 14.

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is touring in support of its tenth studio album, "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", which came out last November.