JAMES HETFIELD Reveals How the 'Terrible' LARS ULRICH Convinced Him to Start METALLICA

James Hetfield remembers the first time he met Lars Ulrich. According to him, Lars wasn’t exactly a great drummer when they crossed paths.

Still, something about his energy made a lasting impression. That unlikely spark led to the formation of Metallica in the early 1980s.

In a 2019 conversation with Terry L. Karges (transcribed by LOUDLEGENDS.COM) at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, James looked back on how the band started. He was there donating ten classic cars from his personal collection, but the topic eventually shifted to music.

“I was in high school playing guitar with a friend. We were looking for a drummer. Lars answered an ad in the paper. I called him, set up an audition, and he was horrible,” James said. “But his drive and enthusiasm were off the charts. We told him, ‘You’re not what we’re looking for.’”

Several months later, Lars called again.

“He said, ‘Hey, remember me?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re the guy with the drum kit where every piece was a different color, and your hi-hat kept falling over,’” James joked. “Then he told me, ‘I got a spot on a record. I just don’t have a band.’”

That compilation was being organized by Brian Slagel, founder of Metal Blade Records. Slagel’s plan was to gather a track from each metal band in the Los Angeles scene.

Lars didn’t have a band, but he had industry knowledge and serious hustle. That was enough.

“Lars had no band, but he got himself on that record,” James said. “His knowledge of heavy metal was so impressive. So I told him, ‘Alright, I’m in.’”

The track they recorded was “Hit the Lights.”

According to Far Out Magazine, James laid down most of the track himself on cassette—everything but the drums. Lars later added his parts.

After sending it to Slagel, they officially formed the band, adding Ron McGovney on bass and Dave Mustaine on lead guitar.

“Hit the Lights” went on to become the first track on Metallica’s debut album, Kill ‘Em All, released in 1983.

Another song on that record, “Whiplash”, was placed sixth in the tracklist and closed out side A of the vinyl edition. It also happened to be Kurt Cobain’s favorite Metallica song.

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