That time 21-year-old Lars Ulrich woke up early to call and tell me how Metallica’s new Ride the Lightning album was doin’

By Steve Newton

I’ve interviewed Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich four times because, hey, I like Metallica.

This is the first time, way the funk back in March of 1985, when the band was still touring behind its second album, Ride the Lightning.

Lars called me up from L.A. and filled me in on how the record was doing in the sales department.

Have a listen:

To hear my full 22-minute interview with Lars Ulrich from 1985–and my interviews with him from 1989, 1997, and 1998 as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can also eavesdrop on my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:

Alice Cooper, 1999
Ozzy Osbourne, 1984
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 2004
Jason Bonham, 1992
Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet, 1998
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 2000
Rob Zombie, 1998
Al Pitrelli of Megadeth, 2001
Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down, 2000
Michael Lardie of Great White, 1987
Phil Caivano of Blitzpeer, 1991
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1997
Ben Huggins of Galactic Cowboys, 1993
Dave Brockie of Gwar, 1991
Zakk Wylde, 1996
Roger Glover of Deep Purple, 2004
Joe Blanton of Royal Court of China, 1990
Jagori Tanna of I Mother Earth, 1996
Klaus Eichstadt of Ugly Kid Joe, 1993
Bob Rock, 1991
Dan Hawkins of the Darkness, 2015
Johnny B. Frank of Kingdom Come, 1989
Paul Gilbert of Mr. Big, 1992
Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam, 1991
David DeFeis of Virgin Steele, 1984
Jeff Waters of Annihilator, 1990
Roger Glover of Deep Purple, 1984
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1989
James Christian of House of Lords, 1988
Martin Popoff, 2023
Russ Dwarf of the Killer Dwarfs, 1988
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1999
Hugh Dillon of Headstones, 1994
Kevin Martin of Candlebox, 1994
Brian Vollmer of Helix, 1985
Tommy Aldridge of Whitesnake, 1990
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1994
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1990
Billy Sheehan of Mr. Big, 1989
Ty Tabor of King’s X, 2001
Paul Nieder of Scatterbrain, 1991
Steve Morse of Deep Purple, 1998
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1998
Tom Keifer of Cinderella, 1991
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 2010
Slash of Guns N’ Roses and Slash’s Snakepit, 1995
Peter Goalby of Uriah Heep, 1983
Marc Storace of Krokus, 1983
John Bush of Anthrax, 1993
Aldo Nova, 1983
Steven Adler from Guns N’ Roses, 2011
Jason Newsted of Newsted (and Metallica), 2013
Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, 2003
Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, 2001
David Ellefson of Megadeth, 1992
David Lee Roth, 2003
Grant Walmsley of the Screaming Jets, 1991
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 2012
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1993
Fernando von Arb of Krokus, 1984
Gary Holt of Exodus, 1985
Dizzy Reed of Guns N’ Roses, 1992
Scott Ian of Anthrax, 2012
Gary Lee Conner of Screaming Trees, 1992
Rudolf Schenker of Scorpions, 1992
Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, 2001
Jeff Keith of Tesla, 1988
Robbin Crosby of Ratt, 1989
Eric Carr of Kiss, 1984
Billy Duffy of the Cult, 1989
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Alex Van Halen, 1995
Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
David Lee Roth, 1994
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 1991
James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Geddy Lee of Rush, 2002
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Vince Neil of Motley Crue, 1991
Vinnie Paul of Pantera, 1992
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, 1988
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, 1989
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1984
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1985
Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, 1983
Mark Farner of Grand Funk, 1991
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, 2002
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1983
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 1984
Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, 1984
Doc Neeson of Angel City, 1985
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, 1983
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Robert Plant, 1993
Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, 1983
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Gary Moore, 1984
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
Yngwie Malmsteen, 2014
Chris Cornell, 2008
Ronnie James Dio, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984…with hundreds more to come

 

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One thought on “That time 21-year-old Lars Ulrich woke up early to call and tell me how Metallica’s new Ride the Lightning album was doin’”

  1. No, never worked Metallica, more than 5 times! Lars was a riot! One of the coolest drummers I have ever met. If you want to hear the whole story, about Metallica @ Thunderbird Arena, read my book! Coming out soon! lol

    Reply

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