Lars Ulrich Says Fame Hasn't Changed Personalities in Metallica

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich says that even given his band's incredible success his bandmates all have pretty normal personalities.

Ulrich made the comments in a new interview with Kerrang! magazine. He says Metallica is still inspired and growing, even more than 36 years into its career.

"I don't think that our personalities have changed that much either," he added. "Given the circumstances, we're fairly normal people — given the circumstances!"

Of course being one of the top-grossing acts in music and by far the most successful heavy metal band of all-time is bound to shake up your life. Ulrich acknowledges that frontman James Hetfield, guitarist Kirk Hammett, bassist Robert Trujillo, former bassist Jason Newsted and himself are part of the 1 percent. 

But he believes they've stayed grounded over the years by "keeping checks and balances" and never waning in how much they care about their music, their live shows and their fans.

"We don't have major basket cases in this band," Ulrich said. "The DNA and the wheelhouse, or whatever you want to call it, is intact. Within the realm of rock 'n' roll, we got lucky."

Ulrich's statements ring true, given the stability in the band's lineup over the years, particularly since its first full-length album.

The band's fans will point to 1983 as the last time anyone in the band fit the "major basket case" description.

Metallica famously fired guitarist Dave Mustaine in '83 due to alcoholism, drug abuse and a number of fights he had with Hetfield and Ulrich. Mustaine was dismissed after a cross-country road trip from California to New York, where the band was scheduled to record its debut album, Kill 'Em All.

Since then, the membership has remained constant with the exception of the tragic 1986 death of bassist Cliff Burton and the amicable departure of Newsted in 2001 after 15 years with the band.

Indeed few bands who've achieved even a fraction of the success Metallica has have endured massive membership overhauls over the same time period.

If you take Metallica's other "Big Four" contemporaries as examples, Slayer has maintained the most consistent lineup, shuffling through about 9 different musicians (mostly drummers) over its 37 years. 

Anthrax and Mustaine's band, Megadeth, have each employed around two dozen musicians over the years.

Metallica just began the second leg of its WorldWired European Tour. 

The band has plans to again tour North America in September. Get the tour dates here. 

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