News Latest News from Ultimate-Guitar.Com. en-US Copyright 1998-2026 Ultimate-Guitar.Com. All rights reserved. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=954 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:24:17 -0400 Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:02:02 -0500 60 Ultimate-Guitar.Com https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/static/_img/logo_trans.png https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/modules/rss/news.xml.php?artist=954 144 44 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-claims-metallica-is-actually-hetfield-and-ulrichs-garage-duo-he-was-just-embellishment https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-claims-metallica-is-actually-hetfield-and-ulrichs-garage-duo-he-was-just-embellishment Music News: "Before there was Black Keys, before there was White Stripes, before there was Flat Duo Jets or whoever those guys are, before there was those kind of bands with no bassist, there was James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich as the original garage duo."]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:24:17 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-on-leaving-metallica-i-was-brave-enough-to-make-a-decision-that-saved-us-all https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-on-leaving-metallica-i-was-brave-enough-to-make-a-decision-that-saved-us-all Music News: "This is a motherfucker of a business," the bassist noted, as he explained why he feels like he's "won" it.]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 04:23:41 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/maybe-20-days-after-the-ashes-were-spread-i-was-playing-on-cliffs-amp-jason-newsted-on-replacing-cliff-burton-weeks-after-his-death https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/maybe-20-days-after-the-ashes-were-spread-i-was-playing-on-cliffs-amp-jason-newsted-on-replacing-cliff-burton-weeks-after-his-death Music News: "I joined this thing with three of the saddest, collectively depressed, filled with anger and anguish people."]]> Sat, 09 May 2026 21:14:43 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-says-echobrain-wasnt-why-he-left-metallica-id-rather-live-than-be-in-your-band https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/jason-newsted-says-echobrain-wasnt-why-he-left-metallica-id-rather-live-than-be-in-your-band Music News: "The Echobrain thing, that was another project I took to a certain level... But that's not the reason I left Metallica."]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 00:35:30 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/what-would-metallica-be-if-cliff-burton-lived-lars-ulrich-might-not-have-been-there-the-next-tour-186377 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/what-would-metallica-be-if-cliff-burton-lived-lars-ulrich-might-not-have-been-there-the-next-tour-186377 Features: "After that, we'll go home for the holidays probably, and then start to go to the next album."]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 11:22:57 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/pepper-keenan-recalls-his-bluesy-tone-at-metallica-audition-their-reaction-what-the-f--k-are-you-doing https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/pepper-keenan-recalls-his-bluesy-tone-at-metallica-audition-their-reaction-what-the-f--k-are-you-doing Music News: "It sounded as heavy as lead to me, totally ripping from all the overdrive on my short-scale SG bass set to the front pickup."]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:02:03 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/producer-flemming-rasmussen-says-cliff-burton-was-metallicas-real-leader-before-lars-ulrich-and-james-hetfield-they-leaned-on-him-to-get-s--t-done https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/producer-flemming-rasmussen-says-cliff-burton-was-metallicas-real-leader-before-lars-ulrich-and-james-hetfield-they-leaned-on-him-to-get-s--t-done Music News: "Nothing really happened in Metallica unless Cliff nodded 'yes'."]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:51:54 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallicas-84-tour-was-canceled-over-poor-ticket-sales-they-hung-out-with-lemmy-instead-says-exciters-john-ricci https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallicas-84-tour-was-canceled-over-poor-ticket-sales-they-hung-out-with-lemmy-instead-says-exciters-john-ricci Music News: "When we arrived in London, there was a phone message at the front desk…" ]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:38:04 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a7xs-zacky-vengeance-shares-controversial-opinion-on-most-divisive-metallica-album-since-load-it-was-like-what-are-they-doing https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a7xs-zacky-vengeance-shares-controversial-opinion-on-most-divisive-metallica-album-since-load-it-was-like-what-are-they-doing Music News: "They chose to go and just make this buck-wild album."]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:34:25 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/cliff-was-the-gateway-metallica-transcended-thrash-on-master-of-puppets-because-of-bach-not-black-sabbath-185627 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/cliff-was-the-gateway-metallica-transcended-thrash-on-master-of-puppets-because-of-bach-not-black-sabbath-185627 Features: "Cliff was definitely the gateway to a lot of that classical stuff."]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2026 19:09:16 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/thrash-metal-was-born-to-reject-glams-commercialism-the-big-four-ended-up-replicating-it-185540 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/thrash-metal-was-born-to-reject-glams-commercialism-the-big-four-ended-up-replicating-it-185540 Features: "'Live Wire' had the same kind of real fast right-hand picking like James and I were doing."]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:16:12 -0400 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/metallica-producer-flemming-rasmussen-on-james-hetfields-rhythm-master-role-on-master-of-puppets-kirk-hammett-doesnt-play-a-single-rhythm-guitar https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/metallica-producer-flemming-rasmussen-on-james-hetfields-rhythm-master-role-on-master-of-puppets-kirk-hammett-doesnt-play-a-single-rhythm-guitar Retrospective: "I rate James as the best rhythm guitar player on the planet. He's unbelievable."]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:17:54 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/don-dokken-recalls-how-metallica-crushed-dokken-and-telling-jason-newsted-his-bass-lines-were-missing https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/don-dokken-recalls-how-metallica-crushed-dokken-and-telling-jason-newsted-his-bass-lines-were-missing Music News: "He said, 'Just give me your opinion, as a producer. Do you think the bass is too low?'"]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:17:52 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/cliff-burtons-and-james-hetfields-response-to-accusations-of-metallica-selling-out-with-master-of-puppets-if-they-consider-that-selling-out-then-whatever https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/retrospective/cliff-burtons-and-james-hetfields-response-to-accusations-of-metallica-selling-out-with-master-of-puppets-if-they-consider-that-selling-out-then-whatever Retrospective: "We do what we want to do," Burton said in 1986.]]> Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:52:51 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallica-officially-announce-life-burns-faster-las-vegas-sphere-residency https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallica-officially-announce-life-burns-faster-las-vegas-sphere-residency Music News: "We are beyond excited to share this with the world in six months' time, and way fuckin' psyched to go next level!"]]> Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:08:55 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/peter-mensch-urged-them-to-reconsider-metallicas-master-of-puppets-was-almost-different-production-and-artwork-wise-184976 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/peter-mensch-urged-them-to-reconsider-metallicas-master-of-puppets-was-almost-different-production-and-artwork-wise-184976 Features: 40 years after its release, "Master of Puppets" still stands as one of the pivotal metal records. However, their choice of artwork was initially completely different, while none other than Geddy Lee was considered as a producer. ]]> Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:27:09 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-were-a-gang-this-band-took-metallica-on-tour-when-they-were-nobodies-this-is-what-its-frontman-thinks-of-lars-ulrich-amp-co-now https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-were-a-gang-this-band-took-metallica-on-tour-when-they-were-nobodies-this-is-what-its-frontman-thinks-of-lars-ulrich-amp-co-now Music News: "I always hear, like, 'Did you know back then that they would be what they are now?' ... And that band then — no, they would never have been that."]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:05:32 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a-real-old-soul-ravens-john-gallagher-recalls-touring-with-young-metallica-describes-what-cliff-burton-was-like https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/a-real-old-soul-ravens-john-gallagher-recalls-touring-with-young-metallica-describes-what-cliff-burton-was-like Music News: "They were kindred spirits. They were a gang. We were a gang."]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:48:20 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/james-hetfield-names-two-metallica-songs-that-are-a-little-difficult-for-him-to-play https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/james-hetfield-names-two-metallica-songs-that-are-a-little-difficult-for-him-to-play Music News: "We all have our own certain songs that are a little difficult."]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:38:39 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre-90-percent-there-insider-report-claims-metallica-is-almost-ready-to-sign-contract-for-2027-las-vegas-sphere-residency https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/theyre-90-percent-there-insider-report-claims-metallica-is-almost-ready-to-sign-contract-for-2027-las-vegas-sphere-residency Music News: "Metallica having a residency at the Sphere is all anyone is talking about on the Strip."]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:42:03 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/how-bands-built-fame-before-algorithms-existed-does-it-still-work https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/how-bands-built-fame-before-algorithms-existed-does-it-still-work Music News: Boots on the ground. ]]> Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:55:21 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-were-struggling-the-time-an-unwitting-daron-malakian-replaced-james-hetfield-in-metallica https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-were-struggling-the-time-an-unwitting-daron-malakian-replaced-james-hetfield-in-metallica Music News: "They're, like, 'What do you know?' I go, 'I don't know. 'Master Of Puppets'.' 'Okay. Count it in.'"]]> Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:00:58 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/it-was-really-tremendous-dave-mustaine-praises-james-hetfields-performance-on-ride-the-lightning-reveals-lars-ulrichs-role-in-writing https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/it-was-really-tremendous-dave-mustaine-praises-james-hetfields-performance-on-ride-the-lightning-reveals-lars-ulrichs-role-in-writing Music News: "Lars didn't just sit there."]]> Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:29:20 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/and-then-james-pulled-the-fire-alarm-metal-musician-recalls-what-metallica-was-really-like-in-the-80s-when-they-toured-together https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/and-then-james-pulled-the-fire-alarm-metal-musician-recalls-what-metallica-was-really-like-in-the-80s-when-they-toured-together Music News: "Everybody had to leave in their pajamas and go out in the cold."]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:18:51 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/hes-had-to-find-himself-what-the-godfather-of-metal-drumming-bill-ward-really-thinks-of-lars-ulrichs-chops https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/hes-had-to-find-himself-what-the-godfather-of-metal-drumming-bill-ward-really-thinks-of-lars-ulrichs-chops Music News: "There's a lot of history between us."]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:54:28 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/imagine-a-world-where-james-hetfield-wasnt-a-lead-vocalist-he-almost-fronted-metallica-in-the-80s-but-abandoned-the-idea https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/imagine-a-world-where-james-hetfield-wasnt-a-lead-vocalist-he-almost-fronted-metallica-in-the-80s-but-abandoned-the-idea Music News: "Everybody was trying to figure out everything about themselves and their own identity."]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:02:03 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-walked-in-sort-of-like-cartoons-ex-thin-lizzy-guitarist-thought-metallicas-whiskey-in-the-jar-was-only-okay-but-this-is-what-threw-him-off-when-he-got-invited-to-play-it-with-the-band https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/they-walked-in-sort-of-like-cartoons-ex-thin-lizzy-guitarist-thought-metallicas-whiskey-in-the-jar-was-only-okay-but-this-is-what-threw-him-off-when-he-got-invited-to-play-it-with-the-band Music News: Asked whether he enjoyed playing with Metallica, Eric Bell responded with — "No."]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2025 01:43:55 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-one-song-and-video-pushed-them-from-underground-metal-to-a-mainstream-rock-juggernaut-the-decision-definitely-paid-off-183353 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how-one-song-and-video-pushed-them-from-underground-metal-to-a-mainstream-rock-juggernaut-the-decision-definitely-paid-off-183353 Features: Sometimes, you need just one move to change everything completely. ]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:02:02 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-have-the-best-job-in-the-world-james-hetfield-names-one-important-thing-he-loves-about-metallica-shows https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-have-the-best-job-in-the-world-james-hetfield-names-one-important-thing-he-loves-about-metallica-shows Music News: "Just looking into one set of eyes, that's all it takes for me."]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:02:03 -0500 https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-didnt-know-who-kirk-hammett-was-emg-founder-on-how-partnering-with-metallica-changed-the-world-of-pickups-and-why-james-hetfield-was-the-toughest-to-make-pickups-for https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/i-didnt-know-who-kirk-hammett-was-emg-founder-on-how-partnering-with-metallica-changed-the-world-of-pickups-and-why-james-hetfield-was-the-toughest-to-make-pickups-for Music News: "We built 19 different models. He more or less changed what we were doing."]]> Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:02:02 -0500