METALLICA's ROBERT TRUJILLO: Playing Stadiums Is 'A Blessing'

In a new interview with The Break Down With Nath & Johnny, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo was asked which he prefers playing: big stadium shows or smaller intimate gigs. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I don't know. I mean, I love them both. I don't know how long I can hold up doing huge stadium shows. I think when you have them and you're able to do them and celebrate that kind of energy, you take it. But it's not normal. It happens to be something that we're able to do now, but who knows? Maybe in a few years we're playing a club or whatever, and that's okay too.

"I don't have a preference," he continued. "But I think as long as I can, I'll be trying to play anywhere and it probably will end up probably being a club. Sharing my music in a smaller venue, that's rewarding for me, and I'll take that. And a lot of times that's where people like me end up, and that's totally fine.

"I believe in [METALLICA], and I also know that, for me, as a musician, as a creative type, I do the best I can for those type of [stadium] performances, but at the same time I still feel connected to the other side of it and smaller venues, and having that outlet is really, really rewarding as well," Trujillo added. "So, really, ideally, you wanna have both. You don't wanna put one against the other. But, again, playing a stadium is a blessing. It doesn't happen to a lot of great musicians. So for us to still have that is an honor and a blessing. We don't take that for granted, man."

Trujillo, who was born on October 23, 1964 in Santa Monica, California, tasted success as the bassist in punk-funk pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and Ozzy Osbourne's band. But in 2003, he successfully auditioned to replace Jason Newsted in METALLICA, a process chronicled in the warts-and-all documentary "Some Kind of Monster".

METALLICA's much-loved former bassist Cliff Burton died in 1986 when the band's tour bus crashed travelling through Sweden on the "Damage Inc. Tour" in support of "Master Of Puppets".

Trujillo told Exclaim! in a 2016 interview that he feels no pressure when compared to his low-end predecessors.

"Whether it's Jason or myself or Cliff, we're all different types of players coming from a different place, but delivering what is best for the band," he said. "That's all I ever do, just try and do the best I can and cater to the song, cater to the music."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield praised Trujillo during a 2017 interview with the 94.5 The Buzz radio station, saying: "Who else could [have come in and done the job]? I mean, there were a few people we auditioned, I know. It might have worked out with other people, but it's hard to find people that are, say, your age; kind of your upbringing, musically, obviously; ability-wise; they've been on the road. It's not like you're bringing some kid out for his first time, and it's, 'Oh my God!' He's going through all the stuff that you did twenty-five years ago. He's got kids. He's married. It just jelled, and it's still jelling. And his personality is probably one of the best contributions, I think, to the band, 'cause he's so chill, he's so up for anything, he's always in there rehearsing. So he does fit in."