Jeordie White Talks Metallica

Former Marilyn Manson bass player Twiggy Ramirez, aka Jeordie White, was among those that auditioned for the Metallica bass job nearly five years ago. The position was left open due to Jason Newsted's departure due to both physical and personal reasons. White joined Pepper Keenan, Eric Avery, and Nine Inch Nails sideman Danny Lohner among others for the audition.

Video clip :

Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo won the job, but White was honored just to get the call from Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett.

Jeordie White On Getting Audition Call From Metallica

"To grow up and have my own success in music and become friends with those guys and to have them call me to come audition, it seemed natural. It didn't seem that crazy, but the kid in me was completely freaked out. To show up, do that, and actually play 'Master Of Puppets' with...to have James Hetfield across the room was scary."

White recalled the audition.

Jeordie White On Trying Out For Heroes Metallica

"It was awesome. It was... I, when I was 16 or however old the hell I was, to have Ride the Lightning and when Master Of Puppets came out. That record totally floored me. It pretty much defined my adolescence. It just, it made me want to take...get my guitar out of my room and play on stage. It really made me want to learn how to play it. The album cover, the pictures on the back, the music, just everything, they lyrics. I just would study that album. It's probably the best heavy metal album of all time -- I don't know about the best album of all time but definitely the best metal album of all time."

In hindsight White, who is a sideman in Nine Inch Nails and principal collaborator for Goon Moon, said that in hindsight he's glad he didn't get the gig.

Jeordie White Relieved Not To Be In Metallica

"You know I'm kind of relieved that that didn't happen. It would have been awesome to be in Metallica, but I'm relieved it didn't happen because it's just... It would be... I don't know if I'd want to be married to something like that. The money would be good, but it'd be a little intense... a little."

Metallica is finishing up work on their new album, and White continues to tour with Trent Reznor and company. He's looking to book some dates with Goon Moon with creative partner Chris Goss.

Comments

[ToolBass_dude]

...and there was i thinking he had news, or had heard the new album or something.

[Birdy266]

Same =[

[not_dead_enough]

Jeordie is an underrated bassist who would have brought something great to Metallica. But I agree in hindsight it probably worked best for all bands to have Jeordie in NiN, Trujillo in Metallica and Skold in Manson. All have their best elements to compliment their band.

[Nor'Easterbass]

What a wuss. "It woulda been too intense...". You keep telling yourself that. If you had got in you woulda crapped a brick, don't lie dude.

[Slaytanic1986]

He really wouldnt have suited Metallica, it would be just another reason for metal fans to rip on metallica, "they have that guy from marilyn manson playing for them now... bahahaha"

Checked.

[Cpt.Bones]

Nor'Easterbass :
What a wuss. "It woulda been too intense...". You keep telling yourself that. If you had got in you woulda crapped a brick, don't lie dude.

hahaha

[marcus00]

He's a very underrated musician in general. He wrote the majority of Manson's music when he was in the band. It would be weird if he ended up in Metallica. Almost as weird as Les Claypool (he auditioned, too).

[pigmaggots]

Nor'Easterbass wrote:

What a wuss. "It woulda been too intense...". You keep telling yourself that. If you had got in you woulda crapped a brick, don't lie dude.

And you wouldn't??

And anyone wouldn't??

It'd be really hard being an original member in Metallica right now and having to live up to past glory, let alone be compared to their past bassists!

[<mos~sedated23>]

yua, you mos def got a good point there 4 shure . Im sick of hearin idiotz that dont know a dam thing about metallica, or give them the respect they deserve! and to jus hear more stupid crap goin around about them is just getin tireing!

[Sanitarium91]

Trujillo suits the band way better, and he plays with his fingers.

[Neloangelo818]

marcus00 wrote:
Almost as weird as Les Claypool (he auditioned, too).

les claypool has been a friend of kirks for a long long time. he auditioned to replace cliff also.

[guitarded420]

yeah claypool would have been interesting....
white is better with trent, it suits his style better. technically, trujillo seems to be a better player for what metallica does.
i think white is trying to be like "no dude im cool, i don care at all" but inside, i think he wises he ws in metallica.

[Ceresz]

ToolBass_dude :
...and there was i thinking he had news, or had heard the new album or something.

So did I
Anyways, good for him. To be albe to play with his heroes.

[visionen]

intresting reading

[imjq87]

They used the wrong form of "principal"...it's principle. People are dumb.

[Ultimate_Gio92]

i see what hes saying thoe, to play with one of the bands he idolized as a kid, who wouldnt like shit a brick?

ahah les claypool in metallica would be interesting

[creativeboner]

Ultimate_Gio92 wrote:

les claypool in metallica

Les Claypool in Metallica would be Epic.

[matman1310]

yeah its one thing play a cover with friends in your house but to actually play it with the dudes who wrote the song has to be scary and intimidating besides its not like he went from trying out for metallica to playing bass with the scorpions at county fairs he ended up playing with NIN not a bad consulation prize

[Dog454]

He's plays for Marilyn Manson, but Metallica is too intense... uh.. what?

[MetalliRage]

les claypool was too good for metallica and james said that at the time. after they played mop, les wanted to do jazz stuff and metallica didnt like that. thats y they took newstead who i didnt mind cause he got the crowd really involved. but cliff was the best and u no what if u really watch trujillo play, ull say hes just as good as cliff. he can ply so fast with his fingrs and his bass solos in suicidal tendencies were amazing.

[will_124]

i think he wises he ws in metallica.

dont you?

[MetalliRage]

o yea. clayspool tried out when cliff died.

[rokket2005]

I'm glad he didn't get the job in Metallica,,,,and not because I like met,,,,,I don't,,,rather I'm glad that he went on to play in A Perfect Circle when Paz left, he was a great fit there, It's kind of disheartening that now he is in NIN though, I don't much care for them either.

[Jackolas]

Amen. I really feel the same way about metallica and those 2 albums.

[xBassgirl123x]

to be honest i think rob trujillo is the right person because he seems more of a metallica person, dont get me wrong jeordie white is a good bassist i just dont think he would suit in metallica.....

[xBassgirl123x]

to be honest i think rob trujillo is the right person because he seems more of a metallica person, dont get me wrong jeordie white is a good bassist i just dont think he would suit in metallica.....

[uvq]

Rob Trujillo is better..

[1llusionz]

Dog454 wrote:

He's plays for Marilyn Manson, but Metallica is too intense... uh.. what?

I think he was referring to interpersonal things within the band, not the music itself. Like Lars' bullshit and having to compete the reputation of their first bassist.

Article has typos and how does one "talks metallica"?

[Geekis_Khan]

Nor'Easterbass wrote:

What a wuss. "It woulda been too intense...". You keep telling yourself that. If you had got in you woulda crapped a brick, don't lie dude.

Don't be a dick dude. I mean, would you want to work with Lars and James? Especially Lars... I mean, what a prick...

Slaytanic1986 wrote:

He really wouldnt have suited Metallica, it would be just another reason for metal fans to rip on metallica, "they have that guy from marilyn manson playing for them now... bahahaha"

Manson = More metal than Metallica.

not_dead_enough wrote:

Jeordie is an underrated bassist who would have brought something great to Metallica. But I agree in hindsight it probably worked best for all bands to have Jeordie in NiN, Trujillo in Metallica and Skold in Manson. All have their best elements to compliment their band.

I think you're right. Although, I would've liked to see another APC album with Jeordie more active on it. And, of course, in NIN, Trent Reznor still does almost all of the writing. I really miss Jeordie in Manson because he got to compose so much, and he's a very talented composer.

Ultimate_Gio92 wrote:

i see what hes saying thoe, to play with one of the bands he idolized as a kid, who wouldnt like shit a brick?

Exactly. For example: I could never play bass alongside John Frusciante.

Squidge wrote:

**** metallica

You know, I don't really like Metallica, either, but comments like that don't add anything to the discussion.

And I just thought of this semi-amusing fact: in his autobiography, Marilyn Manson talks about the recording of "Antichrist Superstar", which Trent Reznor produced. He talks about how Twiggy (which is, of course, what Jeordie went by back then) spent more and more time with Trent, and how it seemed like he'd rather be a member of NIN.

Jump foward to 2005...

[AvengedThrice]

1llusionz wrote:

Dog454 wrote:

He's plays for Marilyn Manson, but Metallica is too intense... uh.. what?

I think he was referring to interpersonal things within the band, not the music itself. Like Lars' bullshit and having to compete the reputation of their first bassist.

Article has typos and how does one "talks metallica"?

Slang for "talks about.." my friend.

[Set-Abominae]

Yeah, it would be tough being a bassist for Metallica. Constantly being compared to Cliff... Those are some big shoes to fill.

Checked.

[CamelToeJoe]

he didnt want to be in the crappier version of metallica, the sellout version.
James:"lets make song pop-rock radio stations will play, Lars."
Lars: "Like....ok James."
Kirk: "Guys, I dont feel like we are bonding. How does my eyeliner look?"
James/Lars: "Aww, group hug!"

*hugs*

[1llusionz]

AvengedThrice wrote:

1llusionz wrote:

Dog454 wrote:

He's plays for Marilyn Manson, but Metallica is too intense... uh.. what?

I think he was referring to interpersonal things within the band, not the music itself. Like Lars' bullshit and having to compete the reputation of their first bassist.

Article has typos and how does one "talks metallica"?

Slang for "talks about.." my friend.

Really? Learn something everyday I guess, I'm not familiar with that phrase. It just sounds weird to me, idk. lol

Cliff wasn't their first bassist, i don't what the hell I was thinking about.

[1llusionz]

CamelToeJoe wrote:

he didnt want to be in the crappier version of metallica, the sellout version.
James:"lets make song pop-rock radio stations will play, Lars."
Lars: "Like....ok James."
Kirk: "Guys, I dont feel like we are bonding. How does my eyeliner look?"
James/Lars: "Aww, group hug!"

*hugs*

lmfao

I see your after reading your first sentence, that's true. Me either.

[DamageMachine]

CamelToeJoe wrote:

he didnt want to be in the crappier version of metallica, the sellout version.
James:"lets make song pop-rock radio stations will play, Lars."
Lars: "Like....ok James."
Kirk: "Guys, I dont feel like we are bonding. How does my eyeliner look?"
James/Lars: "Aww, group hug!"

*hugs*

Sorry dude, but there songs arn't pop-rock

[Monolith295]

DamageMachine :Sorry dude, but there songs arn't pop-rock

Not pop-rock, but not good, too much like every other band. I dont think style-wise he would have been so good for Metallica, he plays kinda goth-rock.

[5_Strings]

DamageMachine wrote:

CamelToeJoe wrote:

he didnt want to be in the crappier version of metallica, the sellout version.
James:"lets make song pop-rock radio stations will play, Lars."
Lars: "Like....ok James."
Kirk: "Guys, I dont feel like we are bonding. How does my eyeliner look?"
James/Lars: "Aww, group hug!"

*hugs*

Sorry dude, but there songs arn't pop-rock

AHAHAHAHAH .. you know I'm the biggest fan ever of metallica .. but that really made me laugh lol

[pyritmann]

metallica is gross now, they should have retired 15 years ago while they were ahead.

[JesusVSMegaman]

creativeboner wrote:

Ultimate_Gio92 wrote:

les claypool in metallica


Les Claypool in Metallica would be Epic.

+1

[jshizznit]

les claypool in metallica woulda been a little odd...seeming as though hes used to his bass being louder than a reg. guitar...nonetheless awesome...but it would be controlled chaos...PRIMUS SHOULD GET BACK TOGETHER!

[not_dead_enough]

jshizznit wrote:

PRIMUS SHOULD GET BACK TOGETHER!

They are.

And for the record, I thought Claypool only auditioned for Metallica in 1986.

[not_dead_enough]

One thing I gotta say though...I think Newstead deserves more than he's given by everybody. He was a more precise player than any other Metallica bassist past-or-present and I think he fitted Metallica perfectly (at least where they were in his time there). To me Rob looks more like he'd fit in at Soulfly or something...

...but it's all good. It all worked out.

[cheesedrummer]

i would have hated to be in metallica when St Anger came out.

good move JW.

[Anty 7]

cheesedrummer :
i would have hated to be in metallica when St Anger came out.

Yeah but I'm sure you would have loved writing the new one with them and recording a new album.

I'm really confident that the new album is going to be their best thing since the black album (which isn't all that hard I suppose)

Checked.

[j-walk]

Metallica is the reason I started playing music and will always be one of my fav bands. And justice for all is thier best album and is one of the best albums all time. I dont really dig thier new stuff but I respect them enough not to bash on it. As for thier new album, they always say thier new stuff is a cross between puppets and blah blah blah, but I am excited to hear it and will definitely buy it.

[Davehetfield]

i agree with jwalk, i dont like their newer music either, but wtf it made them money. Besides i barely even like the Black Album. ...Justice and back is all that i really give a shit about. i have hopes for the new album but it doesnt matter. oh and Trujillo is a fukn good bassplayer and fits metallica bettr than newsted.

[KingSquall802]

i wanna see robert trujillo play anesthesia.
i know he can do it.