Why does James Hetfield let Robert Trujillo play in side projects after firing Jason Newsted for even suggesting it?

My guess is that once Hetfield sobered up, he was a little bit more forgiving. Dude was all coked up or just being a really mean drunk all the time back when Jason left the band. I should know. I was a Metallica roadie for 11 years - from 1984 - 1995. Tough lifestyle but I got my runs in at every stop prior to each show. I was dog tired after the unload and setup, but I wasn't on the tech crew and I could head out for an easy 90 minutes prior to each show. Then we'd load 'em up and hit the bars. Crazy times.

You caring says so much more about you as a person than Hetfield as a businessman.

Because Trujillo could replace anyone in the band and the music would only get better: https://youtu.be/nclXtEqf3e0

Their new single reminds me of their old stuff. Very good....but im sure they are banking on that....

Alan

Tally Ka wrote:

My guess is that once Hetfield sobered up, he was a little bit more forgiving. Dude was all coked up or just being a really mean drunk all the time back when Jason left the band. I should know. I was a Metallica roadie for 11 years - from 1984 - 1995. Tough lifestyle but I got my runs in at every stop prior to each show. I was dog tired after the unload and setup, but I wasn't on the tech crew and I could head out for an easy 90 minutes prior to each show. Then we'd load 'em up and hit the bars. Crazy times.

WOW! I can't believe people waltzed right by your post. Cool life experience...esp. being with the band WHEN THEY WERE GOOD! When I think of Metallica, I think of what Slayer said about them: "They haven't been good for a long time." But, those early days would have been amazing!

Tally Ka wrote:

My guess is that once Hetfield sobered up, he was a little bit more forgiving. Dude was all coked up or just being a really mean drunk all the time back when Jason left the band. I should know. I was a Metallica roadie for 11 years - from 1984 - 1995. Tough lifestyle but I got my runs in at every stop prior to each show. I was dog tired after the unload and setup, but I wasn't on the tech crew and I could head out for an easy 90 minutes prior to each show. Then we'd load 'em up and hit the bars. Crazy times.

I so hope this is true.

I'd love some of your best stories from those crazy times...?

Recalcitrant Scot wrote:

Tally Ka wrote:

My guess is that once Hetfield sobered up, he was a little bit more forgiving. Dude was all coked up or just being a really mean drunk all the time back when Jason left the band. I should know. I was a Metallica roadie for 11 years - from 1984 - 1995. Tough lifestyle but I got my runs in at every stop prior to each show. I was dog tired after the unload and setup, but I wasn't on the tech crew and I could head out for an easy 90 minutes prior to each show. Then we'd load 'em up and hit the bars. Crazy times.

I so hope this is true.

I'd love some of your best stories from those crazy times...?

Yes. More please! Be interesting.

Metallica is pigs who hate the internet "stealing" their music. I wish the internet could steal from them, rob them right into the gutter. I'd like to see Hetfield panhandling, the dirty pig.

Their music is old formulaic garbage that wore out its novelty in about 1 year.

Bring It Kirk wrote:

Because Trujillo could replace anyone in the band and the music would only get better:

https://youtu.be/nclXtEqf3e0

Rad

Bad Wigins wrote:

Metallica is pigs who hate the internet "stealing" their music. I wish the internet could steal from them, rob them right into the gutter. I'd like to see Hetfield panhandling, the dirty pig.

Their music is old formulaic garbage that wore out its novelty in about 1 year.

Were you even alive in the 80s?

If all you know of Metallica is everything past their black album you are missing out.

They used to not be money hungry sellouts. They were better when they were drunken fools.

Alan

Runningart2004 wrote:

Bad Wigins wrote:

Metallica is pigs who hate the internet "stealing" their music. I wish the internet could steal from them, rob them right into the gutter. I'd like to see Hetfield panhandling, the dirty pig.

Their music is old formulaic garbage that wore out its novelty in about 1 year.

Were you even alive in the 80s?

If all you know of Metallica is everything past their black album you are missing out.

They used to not be money hungry sellouts. They were better when they were drunken fools.

Alan

I would even argue that before the black album was Metallica. The black album forward is garbage.

...and justice for all IMHO is their best album (even though the bass is essentially turned down). If they went back and remastered it with more bass it might be considered the greatest rock album of all time: the intricacy and difficulty of some of the solos and melodies combined with the thundering drums and Hettfield before his voice got old are just...splendid.

But agree everything before the black album is incredible, it is amazing to hear the sound evolve. To be honest I don't think the black album is that great - like if you stack up enter sandman against anything on ride the lighting it just doesn't cut it.

Runningart2004 wrote:

They used to not be money hungry sellouts. They were better when they were drunken fools.

I feel bad for them in a way because if you really think about it, they were in the right. I mean, it is hard to think back on it now that free music is ubiquitous, but all of a sudden their business model just vanished. It really wasn't fair. Lars put himself out there as the poster boy for the old way of doing things and ended up looking like a corporate music shill. No one felt sorry for the big record labels, but I still feel bad for the musicians who got fvcked (not necessarily Metallica).

There are so many other great bands out there. For me, Metallica ceased to be relevant after 1996. I saw them play for the last of 15 times in 1998. They attempted to do Four Horsemen as an acoustic song and the whole crowd rightfully boo'ed.

About 15 year's ago Metallica was playing at my local arena in the center stage. I was stone sober because I had my young son with me and was paying very good attention to the stage.

I watched Lars the drummer blow his nose into some kind of white towel and then throw it out to the fans who were fighting over it and then he looked over to the lead singer and laughed about it. Never liked them after that. True story.