Once again....Ian Robinbson....

[NoCalMike 0]

What happened? What went wrong? Where did it all really start to fall apart for Metallica? As I sit writing this I've just come from seeing Some Kind Of Monster, the documentary that shows the creation of St Anger, an album which may go down in history as one of the all time worst Metallica records ever. The entire movie is them bitching and moaning about their "feelings" and how this creates a "negative energy" and all this new age bullshit that-when held up to who they used to be-makes you wonder who these guys are claiming to be Metallica. The movie starts off with Jason Newsted leaving the band after 14 years, part of which was because Metallica had decided to get a "Performance Coach" to sit around and spew dime store psychology shit for 40gs a month. Newsted knew, as I do, how lame that really is. Have the three men who brought the world to it's knees with Kill 'Em All actually turned into a bad episode of Thirtysomething or Dr. Phil> Yes ladies and gentlemen, they have. Some Kind Of Monster as a movie is really good, if a tad bit long but watching it is almost painful because it's such self-involved, high school drama and what's worse, it's not rock. I doubt Lemmy gets weepy eyed about his feelings and I know Anthrax and Exodus would probably slit their wrists before paying 40gs a month to a head shrink to tell them shit that any human should know. As you watch the film unfold you begin to understand why St Anger sucks so badly, because it's not made by Metallica, it's these three old men who've gone from timeless to silly because they won't just rock, they won't just fucking put their bullshit aside and write an album, everything has to be some new age committee meeting.

 

The first and foremost thing this movie does is cement the fact that Lars Ulrich is a dick, just a crying, whining dick. He bitches about playing drums, that it's too hard, he says shit like "When does an album begin and when does it end, what does that even mean?" It means write ten or twelve good songs and shut up about it. Then there's the scene when the band is looking for a new bass player and Lars actually says "If Cliff Burton walked in right now, I don't know if he'd be the right guy for the job." What an asshole thing to say, forget that Cliff Burton is still fairly unmatched in his bass skills, that just isn't something you say about a friend. In my opinion (and many others) Metallica's soul died with Cliff and as we watch the subsequent albums, we can see the failure scale start to rise. Lars seems way more into sitting in a private booth and auctioning off his art for millions then he does writing a record. He'd rather discuss and argue and talk shit then fucking play drums and in one scene he actually complains about a drum part being too hard and that he doesn't want to play it anymore. It's almost like Metallica is a way for him to be able to buy art, rather than his life's blood. Dude, if that's what you think then get gone, you're doing nobody any favors staying in the band. Another great part is after they've auditioned Scott Reeder (Kyuss, Obsessed), Twiggy (Marilyn Manson, A Perfect Circle) and a few other players Lars says that only Rob Trujillo could "Keep up." And that the rest seemed like they "were struggling". I seriously doubt Scott Reeder or Twiggy were struggling with "Frantic", know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, I like Rob, he seems like a good guy and a great player but what Lars said about the other bassists is really fucked up.

 

Next up is James Hetfield and one thing Some Kind Of Monster did for me was make me sad for him. I think it's great that he stopped drinking and that he wants to focus on his family, but then dude, break Metallica up, call it a day, it's not like you need the cash. Watching Hetfield, especially after he gets out of re-hab, makes me think he's scared of releasing the James that wrote those masterpieces of music in the eighties. He seems rigid, self-aware and homogenized to the point of where it gives you douche chills watching him try and write. The 12 stepper lyrics just don't fit Metallica. I mean Christ at one point he lets Lars write lyrics defending the whole Napster thing, and it just doesn't work. I think somewhere deep inside there lies the man that was James Hetfield and I personally think he could let that man out without giving up all he's accomplished on the sobriety front. I think that comes with change, a change of band and a change of headspace. I don't drink and I think working with Lars would drive me to become an alcoholic, so maybe the problem is the company he keeps. Watching the movie you can see hints and whispers of the driving creative force that Hetfield once was and that he's afraid to "rock" at all for fear it'll release the demons that almost destroyed him.

 

As for Kirk, he just seems like a confused friend caught in a war between 12 Step Guy and the Danish Ego. Kirk is a huge talent but I think he's happy with his place just doing what he needs to do to get by and doesn't want to rock the boat too hard. By the end of the movie I just felt that Metallica was done and over. A band that's let everything influence how they write and now they're just writing crappy songs to try and re-capture what they were. Most defenders of that record say "The songs are good, it's the production" my response is "They let it be produced that way." Metallica calls it bucking the trends, I call it an insincere attempt to be "rebels". Everything they do now smacks of insincerity, especially the MTV Icon Metallica show (which I was on so I know how bad it was) where nobody from Metallica's past was on hand to help them celebrate, just a bunch of hack bands who couldn't cover Metallica songs on their best day. If I brought the Metal Up Your Ass-era Metallica to that show and showed them Limp Bizkit and Avril Lavigne performing their songs, they'd have given up right then and there. I know there are still millions of Metallica fans who think St Anger is good, but hey 8 or 9 million people bought the Macarena record, doesn't make them right. I can already hear people clamoring for my head but I swear my heart is in the right place. I love Metallica, I always will and I want them to be remembered as one of the greatest forces in music, not a band that overstayed their welcome. I could be like certain "Radio Personalities" and kiss Metallica's ass but I respect them too much to do that, even if people don't like me for it. I'm not here to be popular, just honest. My advice to James is to end Metallica, call up Newsted and Mustaine and find a fucking killer drummer and start again. I think that could be the beginning of another revolution, spearheaded by one of the great geniuses of heavy metal.

[Guest tangerine]

I agree the issue is clearly Lars.

 

They need to just toss him off the ship and bring in someone else. Bring in the Slipknot guy whom we all know loves and has played with Metallica before. Apprently, he recaptured the essence of Metallica that fateful night.

 

I know they still have it within them. Lars is the one who refuses to let it out. You can "rock" and withold your demons.

[Nevermortal 0]

WOW LARS ULRICH IS A DICK I DID NOT NO THIS!!11!11

[mister foozel 0]

i am probably going to see this tomorrow

 

you think its worth it? or does their whining ruin it

 

EDIT: (for those who have seen it)

[Guest Reservoir_Kitty]

I miss Jason Newsted (not to mention Cliff). He was the most down to earth guy ever, and he got royally fucked over by Lars and his ginormous ego.

 

Metallica does suck now. I used to defend them until the cows came home, but I just can't support the recent album, the screwing over of Jason (whom I was very fond of as their bassist), and all the other stupid crap they've done. It's too much.

 

I can't believe (well, maybe I can) that Lars said that about Cliff. If he was still around, I highly doubt Metallica would've done all this boneheaded bullshit on a stick they've been doing the past few years.

 

I think I'd rather see Metallica retire (or get rid of Lars!) than keep going on as a shell of their former selves.

[Cheex Incarnate 0]

I hope I don't get flamed for this....but my favorite Metallica album is Load. The 80s stuff was great, thrashing stuff, but Load was the first time they came off as artists to me. The hooks in all the songs were great and the things Jason does with the bass is excellent. The arty videos they did for some of their songs were a bit pretentious, but other than that, a great album all around. Now, I guess they didn't like the results too much, because Re-Load was just some lame Black Album retread.

 

*prepares for flames*

 

-Cheex

[haVoc 0]

I can't believe (well, maybe I can) that Lars said that about Cliff. If he was still around, I highly doubt Metallica would've done all this boneheaded bullshit on a stick they've been doing the past few years.

Cracks me up how many people say that. For all we know, Cliff would be worst then Lars today.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

If I brought the Metal Up Your Ass-era Metallica to that show and showed them Limp Bizkit and Avril Lavigne performing their songs, they'd have given up right then and there.

 

*starts building a time machine*

 

PS, I've had these exact same complaints about this terrible band for about 10 years now. Glad to see the world is coming around.

[nl5xsk1 0]

"If Cliff Burton walked in right now, I don't know if he'd be the right guy for the job."

I agree with Lars ... Cliff wouldn't be the right guy to play with Metallica now, he'd probably rather not be involved with shit like St Anger. He'd probably go off on his own & make something that was listenable instead.

 

My advice to James is to end Metallica, call up Newsted and Mustaine and find a fucking killer drummer and start again.

I'd buy an album with those three plus a drummer.

[Black Lushus 0]

hell i'm fine with Metallica if they just get a different drummer...Lars doesn't seem capable of playing at top speed anymore, James and Kirk still can i'm sure and Rob seems suited for it, so....new drummer please!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Lars' top speed never was very fast anyhow...

[The Metal Maniac 0]

You people do all realize that there's like, pretty much no chance in hell Lars is ever leaving that band, right?

 

I mean, maybe if he was just a drummer that they had hired, maybe, but considering that it was him and James who started the band in the first place, I can't see him going anywhere.

 

Besides, if he did, he'd probably sue the beejezus out of the rest of the band (since he has a writing credit on every track they've done except "Motorbreath", if I'm not mistaken) and force them to not be able to use the name Metallica or play any of those songs again.

 

Which actually might not be a bad thing.

[Nevermortal 0]

You people do all realize that there's like, pretty much no chance in hell Lars is ever leaving that band, right?

 

I mean, maybe if he was just a drummer that they had hired, maybe, but considering that it was him and James who started the band in the first place, I can't see him going anywhere.

 

Besides, if he did, he'd probably sue the beejezus out of the rest of the band (since he has a writing credit on every track they've done except "Motorbreath", if I'm not mistaken) and force them to not be able to use the name Metallica or play any of those songs again.

 

Which actually might not be a bad thing.

Him and Danzig should start a club.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

I've been disappointed with Metallica since the Black Album, and I have to say that I'm in on the Lars Hate. The dude just comes off as a prick. Everyone else seems ok, and Lars seems like the asshole who thinks he always has to be in charge, and always has to say something. Prick.

[Rendclaw 0]

Just from the TV commercials I saw that this was truly the end for one of the most influential bands of an era and genre of music.

 

After St. Anger came out I was DEEPLY disappointed. For all that noise about the album being like Kill Em All, I kind of knew that they could not recapture that past glory, but I was interested in seeing if it could at least become close.

 

Nope.

 

I agree with about 90% of what Ian said, and he gave a very good take on the state of the band, as it were. It just makes me sad these days.

[Guest GreatOne]

I got rave reviews for a killer 'Cliff Lives' post which ended in the day he told Lars Ulrich to fuck off (back around 89 or 90) and he formed a new band called Anesthesia and their first album was the best metal album that year not named Seasons In The Abyss, which hilariously included him beating Kirk Hammett up and wondering if Kerry King would leave Slayer

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

...that last post does not make a whole lot of sense...

[mister foozel 0]

Before you read this, I just want to warn you that it may spoil some parts of the movie for you, so continue if you want

 

i just came from actually SEEING the movie and i have to disagree with some of the things Ian Robinson said

 

first of all, regarding lars. yes, he does come off as a dick sometimes, but is also clearly behind james in rehab and in helping making the band on the same page, letting egos go

 

i agree with robinson about how lars doesnt spend enough time playing drums and more time jawing, buts lars never complained that a drum part was too hard and that he didnt want to play it anymore, that just didnt happen

 

and regarding what lars said about cliff, lars meant that with how things are with the band right now, he doesnt knw if cliff would fit with the band right now, not that cliff didnt have enough skill to play

 

and also, when they were choosing a bass player, they chose rob because he fit the best, he seemed like the most comfortable in the band (after all, they didnt want their new bass player to be another jason newsted, a scapeoat for their problems and someone they couldnt get along with) ,and lars even commented that rob's finger picking style reminded him a lot of the way cliff played

 

lars did complain about how much time james was spending with his family and consequently with the band, but anyone would when james was in rehab for a year and an album is being put on hold, other than that lars isn't that bad

 

as for the performance coach, newsted makes a good point that with all they have been through, they need a performance coach to get over their problems, and it

it IS really lame and all three(kirk,james,lars) think so at some parts of the movie and were starting to get sick of him, but they can't disagree that the guy was helping them out, even if it sucks to admit it (after all, they are human beings) newsted makes a good point that with all they have been through, they need a performance coach to get over their problems

 

all in all, i came from the movie wanting to hear the next Metallica album, not feeling like Metallica was over

 

i used to hate st.anger, but after seeing the movie, it makes me understand the album a lot more

it just seems really thrown together, and now i think that its really not that bad considering the circumstances behind it, and bob rock on bass

 

 

i think anyone who wants to form an honest opinion of the band right now should go see the movie and not rely on Robinson to make an opinion for them

 

i thought the same things most of you did about what Robinson said before i saw the movie, and now i very much disagree with it

[Guest GreatOne]

...that last post does not make a whole lot of sense...

Let's see:

 

My 'Cliff Lives' post contained:

 

-Cliff leaving in 89/90.

 

-Telling Lars to fuck off and murdering Kirk Hammett (and briefly wondering if Kerry King would play on his new Anesthesia album).

 

-Making a killer new album that finished second to SITA in metal album of the year.

 

-And we all live happily ever after (so to speak....)

 

So is it that hard to understand? Why is peoples' lack of comprehension MY fault?

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Because you said it all as one large, run-on sentence, and everything was so mushed together I couldn't pull apart anything. Your prior post was like a Sabu match: some nice parts, but overall lacking fulfillment or understanding.

[mister foozel 0]

...that last post does not make a whole lot of sense...

Let's see:

 

My 'Cliff Lives' post contained:

 

-Cliff leaving in 89/90.

 

-Telling Lars to fuck off and murdering Kirk Hammett (and briefly wondering if Kerry King would play on his new Anesthesia album).

 

-Making a killer new album that finished second to SITA in metal album of the year.

 

-And we all live happily ever after (so to speak....)

 

So is it that hard to understand? Why is peoples' lack of comprehension MY fault?

it still doesnt make much sense

 

and why would he murder kirk hammett?

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

So is it that hard to understand? Why is peoples' lack of comprehension MY fault?

I just don't know why you'd brag about it. Kinda dorky.

[Guest GreatOne]

...that last post does not make a whole lot of sense...

Let's see:

 

My 'Cliff Lives' post contained:

 

-Cliff leaving in 89/90.

 

-Telling Lars to fuck off and murdering Kirk Hammett (and briefly wondering if Kerry King would play on his new Anesthesia album).

 

-Making a killer new album that finished second to SITA in metal album of the year.

 

-And we all live happily ever after (so to speak....)

 

So is it that hard to understand? Why is peoples' lack of comprehension MY fault?

it still doesnt make much sense

 

and why would he murder kirk hammett?

Gee why would Cliff leave Metallica? I don't know, why the hell did Jason Newsted leave Metallica?

 

Ah the defenders are coming out of the woodwork.

 

Here's a favorite quote/theory of mine from the time: Jason shaved his head cause he wanted Metallica to go in a more Pantera-like direction (well musically anyway) so James, Lars, and Kirk respond by cutting their hair, making a mediocre album and kissy-faces in the CD booklet.

 

STILL wonder why anyone would wanna beat Lars or Kirk up?

 

Why would ANYONE have wanted to murder any of them the first time they popped in Load and heard a mediocre song, with lyrics that once made Butthead say 'Who writes this crap?'

 

You're right Cliff would have stayed for that, that's like saying Kerry King would have stayed in Slayer had they done a bunch of wimpy albums.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Um, I think you've missed the point. No one's arguing with you. We're just entirely mystified as to what the hell you're talking about.

 

Please don't elaborate.

[Guest GreatOne]

Um, I think you've missed the point. No one's arguing with you. We're just entirely mystified as to what the hell you're talking about.

 

Please don't elaborate.

One last time, the post I made back in 97 about Cliff leaving Metallica and kicking ass with his new project.

 

So that's what, four times I've had to explain myself now? Nice.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Right. Metallica fanfiction is gay.

[Guest GreatOne]

Right. Metallica fanfiction is gay.

Actually I try to stay away from Metallica fans if I can help it, my CL post was partially inspired by teenybopper neighbors who thought that the Black Album was their debut.

[Henry Spencer 0]

Right. Metallica fanfiction is gay.

[PUT THAT DICK IN MY MOUTH! 0]

It doesn't matter what the "inspiration" was, it's still Metallica fan fiction and thus really not very cool and definitely not something you want to go around bragging about. In fact, it'd probably be for the best if you never mention it again.

[Guest GreatOne]

You're right, I won't ever mention it again, it's so utterly stupid and gay........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.......that people actually think Metallica's first album was the black album--I wouldn't brag about it either if it was me, but yeah nothing further will be mentioned on the matter again.