Interview by Faith Featherstone

(CUP)

Metallica: The band that made it to number one on its own terms.

Metallica: Perhaps the hottest heaviest band in the Western world.

Metallica: Allthis and their reputation’s on the line. How could this be?

It was ten years ago when the band first emerged from _L.A.’s glam metal scene to break down sonic barriers forever. Only two years later, their debut album Kill ‘Em All was unleashed upon the world, establishing them as the most important metal band since Motorhead and Black Sabbath.

Their next effort resulted in one of the greatest metal albums ever, 1984’s Ride the Lightning, followed by 1986’s Master of Puppets.

Sales went through the roof without a video or any regularradio play.

It took six-and-a-half years before the record industry finally caught on. With 1989’s And Justice For All and its accompanying video and single ‘‘One,”’ the band was able to literally turn the world on its ear.

Metallica has always been known for its larger-than-

life sound: James Hetfield’s raging vocals and intelli-

gentlyrics, Kirk Hammet’s Satriani-influenced,

intricately woven guitar, Lars Ulrich’s fast-pounding

drums, and Jason Newsted holding it all together with his pumping bass lines.

Released last August, their latest self-titled effort features shorter songs, more melody, less aggression and it’s also landed the band at number one world

wide, But it’s also sent die-hard fans reeling with the

term ‘‘sell-out’’ on every critic’s lips.

To further investigate the accusation, I spoke to Jason

Newsted during a telephone interview from a hotel 4

room in Minneapolis.

How do you feel about being called Metallicash, a ' sell-out?

You know, I really don’t care what they say to tell you the truth because I know what we’vecreated,! ~ know where it came from. Some of the music is fro along, long time ago. Anybody that thinks we sold © out really should probably geta clue. I also think they should come and let me strap into my amps ata live © show, and aftercome up tomeandtellmewesold ~

out and that we’re wimpin’ out... if they can still hear [wicked laugh]. : How are people taking the new material? 3

Surprisingly good... for how long the album’s been ~ out. We’re playing stuff fromevery record onthis ~ tour in the set. There used to be just die-hard fans but now there’sa lot of fresh blood, yet the die-hard fans haven’tcut down. They go nuts for “‘Enter Sand-

> i)

man.

Does the speed metal label still saniye with the ney material?

I’ve never agreed with any label you could put on Metallica. You'll have to use four or five categories © in order to cover the ground that Metallica covers.

‘*Fight Fire With Fire’’ and ‘**Whiplash’’ arespeed — metal because they go 200 beats a minute, but you can’tsay ‘‘The Unforgiven,’ ‘‘Nothing Else Mat-

UPEI X-P RESS

March 5, 1992

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