Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich is featured in an in-depth career spanning interview with Bernard Doe at Metal Forces. An excerpt from the discussion is available below.

In Scott Ian’s 2014 autobiography I’m The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax, the guitarist claimed that when Anthrax were supporting Metallica on their Master Of Puppets European tour in 1986 he had become aware of a conversation between James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton in which they were planning to fire Lars Ulrich from the band at the end of the trek. Obviously the events of September 27th that year, with the tragic tour bus accident in southern Sweden that claimed the life of Burton, would have sidelined any plans to replace their drummer.

However, the longstanding rumour was then given credence by Kirk Hammett in a November 2015 interview with Albany, New York radio station PYX 106, with the guitarist stating they had been “unhappy” and “pissed off at Lars” during that 1986 tour. Hammett did not clarify why they had become dissatisfied with their band mate. Lars though, had no idea of the clandestine plan to oust him from the band he had co-founded with Hetfield in 1981. “It’s certainly not something that I was ever aware of,” he admits. “But I can tell you that there’s been other times as we’ve cruised along where there’s been some friction with this band member or that band member, and where things were a little awkward with this particular guy, or whatever.

“When you have a collective entity like Metallica, that’s been together for 35 years, there are different times on that journey where the idea of what to do next in a particular sticky dynamic has brought upon different options of different potential resolutions. There were times when Kirk was kinda floating out there, and there were a couple of times when Hetfield was kinda floating out there, and there were different times when I was kinda floating out there, so it was very possible. I’m sure Scott Ian knows something that I don’t, and I’m fine with that. It was just not something that was ever on my radar.”

Lars revealed that he has not spoken to Kirk Hammett about those recent comments. “No, I make a point of not to read any of Kirk’s interviews,” he laughs. “I really don’t read interviews. I don’t know, the whole thing of 20 years ago sitting there and following what Mustaine is saying this week in Kerrang! and what Bruce Dickinson is thinking about this, and all that kinda stuff – I just don’t follow one paragraph of it anymore. I mean, I can’t open some of my web pages or check the news headlines or whatever without being aware of the fact Kirk Hammett said this or somebody else says that. Obviously it’s hard to exist in 2016 without some of this stuff showing up on your radar, but I don’t read it and I don’t follow it.”

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Metallica recently released a ton of hilarious behind-the-scenes footage detailing their new collaboration with Italian luxury menswear house Brioni and their new creative director Justin O’Shea.

Says the band: “We are beyond thrilled to have been invited to be the face of Italian luxury menswear powerhouse Brioni as they kick off their first creative campaign under the direction of newly appointed creative director, über cool style star Justin O’Shea. The black and white Queen ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ inspired photos were shot last month in San Francisco by photographer Zackery Michael. We’re sporting Bespoke Brioni suits and tuxedos as well as sunglasses from their new eyewear collection.”

According to BOF, the campaign will be distributed on social media channels and is set appear on billboards and kiosks in Paris and in The New York Times, reflecting a more focused initial print advertising buy. Wider print distribution and billboards in New York, Los Angeles and Moscow will follow in the autumn.

Check out more photos here.