In a recent episode of The Metallica Report podcast, producer Bob Rock identified the drummer who most closely resembles Lars Ulrich’s playing.
During the discussion, Rock commented on Ulrich’s drumming technique during the S&M performances. Ulrich, according to Rock, uses Hetfield’s guitar playing as the foundation for his drumming, which is similar to Moon’s approach with The Who guitarist Pete Townshend. He shared:
“Lars plays for James, which is why his fills revolve around the riffs. When you put that into perspective, I believe Keith Moon is the closest drummer to Lars because they both play musical drums. It’s not just about keeping the beat; it’s everything.
Metallica Had A Different Way Of Recording
Rock has collaborated with Metallica several times, both as a temporary member and as a producer. He produced seven Metallica albums and played bass on their eighth studio album, ‘St. Anger.’ Throughout his years as a producer for the band, he noticed one thing: Metallica recorded differently than other bands. The producer explained how he helped the band ‘be the best they could be’:
“The first thing I noticed was that they recorded in the same way that Flemming Rasmussen did. That was all they knew, so that’s how they learned to make records. “When I first arrived, I thought, ‘That’s not how I make records.'” It really comes down to the fact that I was there to help them be the best that they can be.”
Hetfield Thought Ulrich Was ‘Terrible’
Ulrich has performed with Metallica since their inception in 1981. Hetfield considered getting another drummer before joining the band because he thought Ulrich was ‘terrible.’ According to Terry L Karges, Hetfield knew Ulrich needed some work before joining the band. His setup, which included five different colours and a cymbal falling every time he hit, did not appear to help either. He recalls:
“I called him up, we had an audition, and he was terrible. But his spirit and motivation were incredible. We said, ‘You’re not who we’re looking for.'”
Despite the challenges, Ulrich eventually joined the band and is now one of the world’s most renowned drummers.
