Metallica's Secret Ingredient: Earl Grey Tea!
Metallica, the iconic rock band known for their wild antics and heavy music, has come a long way since their early days of excess and substance abuse. In a recent interview, drummer Lars Ulrich shared how the band has evolved and matured over the years, trading in their old vices for healthier habits.
Gone are the days when Metallica would thank alcohol brands like Carlsberg lager and Absolut vodka in their album credits. The band used to embrace a philosophy of "tackling the world and drinking all its booze," as Ulrich recalled, with wild partying and heavy drinking being the norm during their early tours.
"We used to start drinking when we woke up. We'd get the gig over by 3 o'clock, and then we would have 8 or 9 hours to drink," Ulrich reminisced about their notorious Monsters Of Rock tour with Van Halen in 1988. "It was wild. There are pictures of us on top of Tampa Stadium with our pants off, flashing everyone. It's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we're already drunk off our asses."
But the loss of their bassist Cliff Burton in 1986 and the toll of their wild lifestyle eventually caught up with the band. In 2004, frontman James Hetfield entered rehab to deal with his addictions, and the rest of Metallica followed suit in cleaning up their act.
"The days of going off your rocker all night and watching the sun rise are pretty much behind us," Ulrich said in a recent phone interview from the United States.
Nowadays, Ulrich has swapped alcohol for a more refined habit: tea. He laughs as he describes the teapot and cup that are always within arm's reach, filled with Earl Grey tea with a hint of vanilla. "Not only is it yummy but it keeps me fired up. I drive everyone around me nuts with my crazy energy."
Ulrich has always been the driving force behind Metallica, from founding the band in 1981 to serving as their unofficial historian, spokesperson, and musical director. When it came to creating their latest album, "72 Seasons," Ulrich did what he always does: sat down with a conveyor belt of steaming hot tea and sifted through months of material to identify the best riffs and jams.
The result is a relentless onslaught of pulverizing riffs that fall on the listener like a landslide, making "72 Seasons" one of Metallica's hardest and heaviest records to date. Hetfield's lyrics on the album reveal his vulnerability, as he pours his pain from recent upheavals in his life, including a second stint in rehab and a divorce, into the music. The lyrics touch on themes of temptation, isolation, and fame, addressing darker issues that many people can relate to.
"One thing that James is really good at is reiterating that you're not alone," Ulrich said. "We all deal with darker issues at different levels of intensity, and often getting it out of your system and into a conversation can really help."
"72 Seasons" encapsulates the band's belief that the emotions and experiences of your youth stay with you throughout your life. Despite selling over 125 million records worldwide and achieving massive success, Ulrich still feels like a "loner" and a "misfit" at times, a reminder that fame and fortune don't necessarily erase personal struggles.
As Metallica continues to evolve and mature, their music remains powerful and resonant, speaking to the human experience and addressing important issues. With healthier habits and a renewed focus on their music, the band continues to captivate audiences around the world with their unwavering energy and dedication to their craft.