JAMES HETFIELD On the 'Weak' METALLICA Member: 'Not Amazing'

James Hetfield has always been particular when it comes to Metallica’s music. Known for his precision as a rhythm guitarist, he’s often regarded as the most technically sharp member of the band, along with current bassist Robert Trujillo.

But not everyone in the group fits that mold. James himself has pointed out that one bandmate was never exactly impressive with his instrument.

That bandmate is Lars Ulrich, the drummer who, by his own admission, is no virtuoso. James once said:

“His drumming wasn’t amazing, but he had this drive. Teaming up with Lars was great, we really connected musically – and over drinking too.”

The quote, resurfaced by Far Out, appears in the documentary Some Kind of Monster and has long been circulating among fans as a quiet acknowledgment that Ulrich, while essential, was never a technical wizard.

That same sentiment was echoed years earlier by Ron McGovney, Metallica’s first bassist. According to him, Lars’s first attempts behind a drum kit were… chaotic.

“His cymbals kept falling over. He looked more like someone sitting at a drum set for the first time than an actual drummer.”

Eventually, Lars did improve. Still, his value in Metallica has always leaned more toward strategy, organization, and relentless ambition than pure musical finesse.

He was the one pushing behind the scenes, handling business, guiding the band’s direction, and helping conceptualize key albums like …And Justice for All and the self-titled Metallica (aka the Black Album). His role in shaping song structures alongside Hetfield was also fundamental.

Say what you will about some of his live performances or awkward studio takes, but pretending he didn’t help build and define Metallica is just delusional. Big-name musicians have openly acknowledged his contributions.

Without Lars Ulrich, there’s a good chance Metallica wouldn’t have survived those first scrappy rehearsals, let alone become one of the most massive metal bands on the planet.

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