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"We formed this band when we were 18-19, we couldn't play...We were just like 'Let's get together and play some cover songs, drink some vodka,'... A year and a half later we were touring the world, releasing records!" --Lars
"What's this all about? Its about music, its not about anything else, its not about having the coolest cover, or the coolest title, or about anything, its just about music." --Lars
"If you sit there and know that rule #1 is just that evrything you do is honest and is just a natural and instinctual extension of yourself, then there you go." --Lars
"The whole way that me and James write songs together... that was very much shaped when Cliff was in the band, and was very much shaped around Cliff's musical input. The way he really taught us about harmonies and melodies and all that kind of stuff... his vibe is always with us, and he was certainly a big part of the whole way that we got our chops together in the early days, about our attitudes and our musical vibe and our everything." --Lars
"What's the message in Metallica? There is no message, but if there was a message, it really should be look within yourself, don't listen to me, don't listen to James, don't listen to anybody, look within yourself for the answers." --Lars
"Authority pisses me off. I think everybody should be able to drink and get loud whenever they want." --James
"Control your life through insanity." --Cliff
"I think kids know that this is not some kind of 'make-a-quick-buck' type of deal, and I think, as people, they can associate with us that much better than with other bands who have these larger-than-life comic book characters up on stage. OK, we're 27 now, but I'm sure the fans still look up to us a bunch of kids on stage, having a good time." --Lars
"A lot of kids don't get to express themselves that way, nut then reading our lyrics, they kind of think, 'Hey, fuck, I'm not the only weirdo around, some other guy thinks that way,' or, whatever, and it kind of relaxes the little knot in your brain so your not so angry. Life ain't so bad after all. It is most the time, though." --James (on his lyrics)
"There's just something really cool about venturing into unknown territory, because then it becomes exciting, and then it becomes a challenge, its not the same old shit you've always done." --Lars
"I ended up gettin' a little Gibson amp and a bass, because of Gene Simmons of Kiss. Myself and three other kids would pretend to be Kiss - I liked Gene the best." --Jason
"Isn't that the whole integrity of this fuckin' band to do different shit? We've always tried to avoid following what everyone else is doing. Its a challenge to come up with things that are original. Its not easy, but that's part of the fun." --Lars
"We're the underdogs. We haven't had a top 10 hit, and we look like a bunch of bums out there. Amidst all this glam and this huge production, we're going to stick out. But that's what we're here for - and that's what put us here in the first place." --Kirk, in 1988
"We discovered how much money influences certain things and discovered how things work in the United States. How things might seem okay on the outside, but internally, they're corrupt." --James
"Call it anarchy or whatever you want to - there's times when you wanna be able to do whatever the fuck you want and, y'know, life's always short, so why shouldn't you?" --James
"My guitars are my umbilical cord. They are directly wired into my head." --Kirk
"I'm very fortunate to be doing the thing I do best, which is play guitar. There are not many other things I could do." --Kirk
"We're discovering things as we go along; its not a boring ride, that's for sure!" --James
"I'm not a drummer and Metallica is the band I happen to be in. I'm in Metallica, and what I happen to do in Metallica instrument-wise, is play drums." --Lars
"Alternative is just more of a packaging I would think. Come on, Nirvana had riffs that could have been on (Black Sabbath's) Master of Reality." --Kirk
"My main concern as far as Metallica is concerned is to play 'cool bass stuff,' and moody, different things and expressions and things on James' great songs. I mean he writes GREAT songs. And so I'm trying to do my best, my part, to make his songs better." --Jason
"My only concern is that people show up for us when we play live. As long as people come out to see us live, because we're essentially a live band, that means a lot to me." --Kirk
"We don't like being clowns on record, this is serious shit." --James
"Everything comes out in lyrics, whether you like it or not. I think I'll have an idea of what I'm going to write about, and all of a sudden it takes a complete turn this way, and ends up something more meaningful. That's the main thing; if its really, really you and really heart-felt, then its working." --James
"I'm a bit nutty, pretty cynical at times. I can be an asshole sometimes. I'm still personally easy going. I'm a perfectionist, and I'll drive myself crazy to achieve something." --Kirk
"We don't want anyone to take what we're saying as some sort of statement from us. We're not preaching a message to anyone. That's not what Metallica's about at all. We're the last band that will ever tell anyone how to live their life." --James
"If we're trying to tell people anything, its just do it yourself, get your own shit together cuz that's what we always tried to do. Follow your instincts and be a leader instead of a follower." --Lars