When it comes to one of his former bandmates, musician Jason Newsted is protective.
In a conversation with “Let There Be Talk,” the bassist has come to the defense of former Metallica bandmate Lars Ulrich about his drumming.
When it comes to Ulrich’s drumming being called “average,” Newsted said, “Anybody that says that is a f**king idiot. They have no idea what they’re talking about.”
“Do not talk s**t about that guy. He’s way ahead of you in most things, I promise you that — I promise you,” Newsted added. “If we wouldn’t have had him and his ability to anticipate, to predict, to know geography, to understand what country and what city and what did what at what time and all this stuff, no way Metallica would be what they were. No way! So you need to get ahold of yourselves because there’s way more to it than just being able to hit a snare drum.”
Newsted was the bassist for Metallica from 1986 to 2001, while Ulrich has been in the band since he co-founded it with guitarist James Hetfield in 1981.