LARS ULRICH Breaks Down the Goal of New METALLICA Doc: 'Turn The Spotlight Away From Us And Celebrate The Fans'
Metallica drummer shares the motivation to make a fan-centric documentary after more than four decades on stage.
Metallica’s Lars Ulrich wants people to know the band isn’t the main focus of their new documentary. The real stars, he says, are the fans.
Speaking on the red carpet at the Tribeca Festival premiere of Metallica Saved My Life, Ulrich explained why the film shifts attention away from the band and onto the people who have supported them for more than four decades.
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“It’s just great for us to kind of turn the spotlight away from us and on to the fans and get a chance to hear their stories,” Ulrich said in a video interview with Heavy Consequence.
The documentary, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, features stories from Metallica fans across 23 countries. It explores how the band’s music helped people through challenges like grief, addiction, and personal identity.
Ulrich said the diversity of the fanbase is what makes the project so meaningful.
“There’s so much diversity. And I think probably the greatest thing about our fans… is how different they are,” he said. “You get 10 people, you get 10 different stories.”
He also shared that working on the film over the past three years has given the band a deeper connection to their audience.
“Just trying to share some of those stories and get a little bit of a peek into their lives… that’s been the best part.”
The idea for the documentary came from comedian Jim Breuer, who toured with the band and got to know fans behind the scenes. Breuer encouraged Metallica to collect and share these personal stories, which later became the foundation of the film.
Ulrich said the goal is simple: show that fans and band members are part of the same community.
“We’re all Metallica together,” he said.
Metallica Saved My Life is expected to be released later this year.
Metallica Fans Across the Globe
Metallica Saved My Life is a global mosaic built from deeply personal fan stories collected across 23 countries. The film moves far beyond backstage passes and stadium shots, digging into how Metallica’s music shaped lives in different corners of the world.
One of the featured voices is Camilla, a fan from Chile, whose story of self-discovery and connection resonated deeply with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich.
Ulrich also pointed to a group of Norwegian “Vikings”, whose passion for the band reflects his own Scandinavian roots.
Other stories were gathered from fans across the United States, Germany, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and more. Each location added its own layer of emotion, culture, and perspective.
What ties these stories together isn’t geography, language, or background. It’s the music—and how it gave people something to hold on to, whether they were dealing with grief, addiction, identity, or just trying to find their place in the world.
The interviews were directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who worked closely with the fans to make sure each story felt real, intimate, and respectful.
Instead of flashy editing or overdone dramatics, the film lets the fans speak for themselves. Their locations become part of the story too—kitchen tables, rehearsal rooms, tattoo shops, tiny apartments, and quiet city streets.
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Despite criticism, Portnoy argues Ulrich’s contributions go far beyond what critics acknowledge.
