Lars Ulrich (b. 1963)

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Biography

Lars Ulrich is a Danish musician who is the drummer and a founding member of American heavy metal band Metallica. Along with James Hetfield, Ulrich has songwriting credits on almost all of the band's songs, and the two of them are the only remaining original members of the band.

In Their Own Words (3)

If you'd stop being a Metallica fan because I won't give you my music for free, then fuck you. I don't want you to be a Metallica fan.

Quoted in Rob Tannenbaum, "The Playboy Intervie Metallica," Playboy (April 2001). , 2001

Don't talk it, walk it.

Quoted in Some Kind of Monster (2004). , 2004

If there are people that are dumb enough to use Metallica to interrogate prisoners, you're forgetting about all the music that's to the left of us. I can name, you know, 30 Norwegian death metal bands that would make Metallica sound like Simon & Garfunkel.

Timeline

The story of Lars Ulrich, told in moments.

1981 Event

Placed an ad in the LA Recycler looking for musicians into Motorhead and Diamond Head. James Hetfield answered. They formed Metallica in a garage. Neither could really play yet.

An ad in the Recycler. Neither of you could really play yet. Did that matter? What was that first rehearsal with Hetfield like?

1991 Event

Metallica released their self-titled "Black Album." It sold 16 million copies in the U.S. alone. "Enter Sandman" became their signature song. The album spent four consecutive weeks at number one.

Enter Sandman and 16 million copies. Did the Black Album change Metallica or just make it bigger? Four weeks at number one. Did mainstream success feel like a betrayal to thrash fans?

2000 Event

Filed a lawsuit against Napster for copyright infringement. Became the face of the anti-piracy movement. Delivered the names of 335,000 users to Napster's offices in boxes. Fans burned his records in protest.

Delivering 335,000 names to Napster s offices in boxes. Was that justice or theater? Fans burned your records. Did the backlash surprise you?

2009 Event

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Metallica. The band had sold over 125 million albums worldwide. They're the third-bestselling music act since 1991 by Nielsen SoundScan.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after 125 million albums. Was that validation or a formality? Third-bestselling act since 1991. Did you expect to outlast everyone?

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