Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has opened up about the Taylor Hawkins gigs in London and Los Angeles, saying he was excited to play AC/DC and Black Sabbath but didn’t feel “qualified” enough to play with Rush.
Ulrich will be joined by AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and a pair of former band members in a tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer at the first show at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 3rd September performed his hits: “Back”. Black and Let’s Rock. Then in Los Angeles, Sebastian Bach joined Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler and the Foos to perform “Paranoid” and “Supernaut”.
In appearance The Howard Stern Show Last Monday (Nov. 28), Ulrich spoke about the possibilities (via Blabbermouth): “Dave Grohl called me three or four months ago and asked me to do Taylor Hawkins’ Wembley and L.A. Forum, and before he could even explain it, I just said, ‘Yeah, Dave. I I’ll be there. Tell me what you want and I’ll come with bells and whistles.
Ulrich explained that he found the shows intimidating because “it’s not the most comfortable thing for him to step outside of the world of Metallica.” He continued, “I think a big part of why we love staying in the Metallica universe is that there’s safety in numbers and we support each other and have that.”
He stated that performing the aforementioned AC/DC songs was “a lot of fun”, especially because he found them “just right”. [his] wheelhouse.” Needless to say, the offer to play with Rush—who played both tribute shows—wouldn’t have gone down well with Ulrich.
“I mean, I love Rush,” he said, “[but] If they had said: Come and play 2112 with Alex [Lifeson] and Geddy [Lee]I’d go, “I think there’s someone better qualified than me to do this.”
When Ulrich pressed Stern more, “Can I? Obviously playing with Alex and Geddy would be incredible… Chad Smith played and Dave played a few songs. [with Lifeson and Lee]. It would be something to go up. It would take a lot of practice, a lot of preparation. ‘2112’ would probably be too many apples for me.
Ulrich is currently busy promoting Metallica’s 11th album, 72 Seasons, which is due out on April 14. The album was announced last week along with its single “Lux Æterna”, and during an interview with Stern, Ulrich admitted that he thought the album’s leak was “obvious”.
Elsewhere in the interview, Ulrich explained why Metallica allowed it Strange things Use “Master Of Puppets” in its fourth season. “It’s been crazy to see how it’s become such a phenomenon, and we’re so proud,” he said of its inclusion.