Metallica Producer Discusses Why Lars Ulrich Is a Great Drummer

Bob Rock has worked on some of the biggest albums in the history of rock and heavy metal, including Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood and Metallica's Black Album. 

Rock began working with Metallica on The Black Album in 1990 and continued with the band through 2003, so he has as good an idea of drummer Lars Ulrich's abilities and contributions to the band as anyone on Planet Earth. 

In a recent interview with Tape Op magazine, Rock gushed about Ulrich's playing.

"...[What] makes Lars Ulrich's drumming so wonderful and so unique is that he's reactive to the music," Rock said. "The Black Album was him consciously trying to be more of a backbeat, keep-the-time kind of guy. Most of his fills and unique drumming all comes out of the fact that he plays to the riff of the music, much like [Keith Moon did] with The Who."

Rock continued, drawing parallels between the influential British rock band and Metallica.

"The Who and Metallica are very similar, because Keith Moon played to Pete Townshend's solid rhythm playing, and Lars Ulrich has always played to James Hetfield's solid rhythms. I don't believe Lars thinks in the terms that most drummers do, I think he thinks in a musical world that is unique. He plays to the riff, rather than trying to control the riff."

The producer referred to Ulrich and Hetfield, Metallica's founding members, as the "life blood" of the band.  

Rock's last effort producing Metallica was with 2003's St. Anger, the making of which was chronicled in the film Some Kind of Monster. Rock later said he felt "20 years younger" after the band decided to stop working with him. 


Photos: Getty Images


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