Robert Trujillo Calls Metallica Bass Position the “Most Demanding Gig”

After 20 years in Metallica, Trujillo reflects on the legacy of Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted

By Silas Johansson

Jul 2, 2024

Robert Trujillo calls playing bass with Metallica “the most demanding gig” he’s ever had.
Trujillo respects both Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted for their unique contributions to Metallica’s sound.
Kirk Hammett finds Metallica’s songs easy after 40 years, suggesting Trujillo might feel the same after a few more decades.

The Gist

Robert Trujillo might be the newest face on the Metallica bass, but with two decades under his belt, he’s hardly the fresh recruit anymore.

Slotting in as the fourth bassist after Jason Newsted, the legendary Cliff Burton, and, yes, the lesser-known Ron McGovney (check Wikipedia if you must), Trujillo’s view of the job is clear: playing bass for Metallica is no walk in the park.

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Their Load and Reload albums had some fans screaming “sellouts!” because of a bit of a stylistic shift. But then, everyone realized “Fuel” is an earworm and kept listening anyway.

Despite a résumé that spans Suicidal Tendencies and beyond, he ranks his role in Metallica as “the most demanding gig” in rock.

In a chat with Bass Player, Trujillo shared what makes holding down the low end for Metallica a serious challenge:

“The biggest challenge has been with my bass playing. I’m not putting down any bass players, but not many could do this job. Playing with Metallica is the most demanding gig there is.”

Trujillo holds a deep respect for those who came before him, speaking fondly of both Burton’s and Newsted’s contributions to the band. When he talks about Cliff Burton, the admiration is unmistakable:

“Cliff was amazing for Metallica. His ideas, his presence, and the direction he was taking both the bass and metal were something special. His stage presence? Unmatched. He was so physical in his playing, it was all about feeling—if you didn’t like it, well, tough luck.”

As for Jason Newsted, Trujillo acknowledges the unique flavor he brought to Metallica’s sound:

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Jason. Given he’s a pick player, handling the speed and dexterity in this music is no small feat. He kept things steady, simpler than Cliff, but that brought its own strength. I love that each of us has brought our own style to the band, and I bring my own approach.”

The irony? Kirk Hammett recently said playing Metallica’s catalog is a cakewalk after 40 years. Who knows—maybe in a couple more decades, Trujillo will find Metallica’s material a breeze too, while backing an 80-year-old James Hetfield.

For those looking to catch Trujillo in action with Metallica, here’s the remaining M72 tour schedule: