July 2025    By: Kreig Marks

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Kreig:  Lars, you’ve helped build the biggest metal band on the planet. Do you ever sit back and go, ‘Wow, we did that’?

 

Lars: Every now and then, yeah. I mean, 40+ years with this beast called Metallica? It's wild. But I’m Danish—we don’t walk around patting ourselves on the back too much. We just keep moving.

 

Kreig:  You’ve caught some flak online about your drumming style. Be real—does it ever get to you?

 

Lars: Of course it does. I'm human. But I’ve always believed in serving the song. I’m not trying to impress other drummers—I’m trying to create a feeling. People can make all the memes they want, but I show up every night, give it all, and I’m proud of that.

 

Kreig:  Let’s say a 19-year-old on YouTube nails “Dyer’s Eve” with perfect double kicks. Your reaction?

 

Lars: Hats off! That song’s brutal. But hey, try doing that live after two hours on stage in front of 60,000 people and pyros exploding in your face. (laughs) It’s a different animal.

 

Kreig:  Let’s switch gears—Tennis! You were ranked in Denmark as a teen, right?

 

Lars: Yeah, I was all in on tennis before drums. Traveled all over Europe. That training helped with stamina and coordination—and probably saved my back from snapping after playing “One” night after night.

 

Kreig:  Hypothetical match: You vs. Federer. You bring the drums, he brings the racquet. Who wins?

 

Lars: Federer. Unless I distract him with a drum solo. (laughs) But if we played tennis and he agreed to use his left hand… maybe I’d stand a chance.

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Kreig:  How’s the dynamic with James Hetfield after all these years?

 

Lars: Stronger than ever. We’ve been through it all—therapy, breakdowns, breakthroughs. He’s my brother. Sometimes we still clash, but that tension creates the spark behind so much of our music.

 

Kreig:  And with Kirk and Rob?

 

Lars: Kirk’s a sweetheart. Totally zen, into his wah pedals and horror movies. Rob? Total pro—he’s grounded, no ego. The four of us, it’s like a strange dysfunctional family that somehow functions perfectly.

 

Kreig:  After all these years, can Metallica still surprise you?

 

Lars: Absolutely. There’ll be a riff someone brings in and I’ll just sit there like, “Damn, that’s new.” That hunger hasn’t gone away, and that’s what keeps us dangerous.

 

Kreig:  Desert island time: You get to take one Metallica song with you.

 

Lars: “Fade to Black.” It’s heavy, emotional, melodic. Feels like a lifetime in one track. I’d be okay listening to that until the end of time—or at least until someone finds me.

 

Kreig:  Okay, flip side—one song you’d be fine never playing live again?

 

Lars: Probably “Seek & Destroy.” Look, it’s a classic, but after playing it thousands of times… sometimes I fantasize about giving it a little vacation. But the fans go nuts for it. So we keep it in.

 

Kreig:  What’s the weirdest thing a fan has asked you to sign?

 

Lars: A prosthetic leg. During a show. Guy takes it off and holds it up. I thought, “Respect, man.” Signed it right there. Metallica fans are a different breed.

 

Kreig:  I think Robert said the same thing when I interviewed him!  When the final Metallica show ends and the lights go down—what do you want people to say about Lars Ulrich?

 

Lars: That I gave a damn. That I was passionate. That I wasn’t the best drummer on the planet, but I showed up, every night, and gave everything to the music and the band. That I helped build something that mattered.

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