SonicNet Chat July 8, 1998

Metallica: Howdy its James here in

the Van on the way to Cuyahoga

Falls, Ohio.

Frogs_on_tour : James how does

it feel to be a father?

Metallica: I feel like a grown up now.

GwenStefaniReal : Hey James, do

you still have marks or burns from

that huge flame? And did you find it

harder to play guitar after that?

Metallica: No I was very dedicated

to rehab and I was very in to playing

guitar again.

Harvester_666_Sorrow : Will you

guys ever consider returning to your

old HARD style again?

Metallica: Metallica is not in to

moving backwards. As human s

which doesn't mean we won't

necessarily playing harder stuff

again.

Freik_TFA : To James: I heard that

you originally only wanted to sing in

the band, and not play guitar. Is that

true?

Metallica: Yes, that was the original

plan, we couldn't really find any one

to play guitar the way I wanted them

to. So I originally ended up doing

both, singing and playing.

Eveprevost1 : What do you love in

the life of a rock star that's keep you

in this crazy world?

Metallica: Uhh the music part 2 1/2

hours being on stage. Sometimes it

gets to be too much, but I love it.

Twilight_Eyes22 : Out of all your

albums, which one is the favorite?

Metallica: Uh, Ride the Lightening

and Reload.

James : Do you foresee any

evolution in the music (Metallica's)

that excite you? What elements

would you most like to incorporate or

explore?

Metallica: We haven't starting

writing new material yet and we

won't start till next year. So their

won't be any preconceptions about

what will be next.

Mtlfknca : What are your favorite

bands right now?

Metallica: The Reverend Horton

Heat, Rocket From The Crypt,

Social Distortion, Loud Mouth.

SRT3 : What other artists you like to

work with?

Metallica: Umm.. Working with

Metallica definitely takes up 100

percent. TOM WAITS.

Alicia_Zambri : Sorry. How do you

feel when fans from the beginning

now are turned off by your new style

of music?

Metallica: Fuck the fans that don't

like our new music.

Metallica: Sorry. I'm on a cell phone

on the way to the gig. We keep

cutting out! It's really Rock N' Roll.

Sorry everyone. Please bear with us,

the cell phone keeps cutting out.

Jax_13_13 : Is Unforgiven or any of

your other songs auto-biographical

in nature ?

Metallica: Uh basically, from the

Black album on it basically has

been that you write what you know.

So in a way it is autobiographical.

Metallica: We're at the gig and we

are all alive! by the way...

Abner_Jones : James- When did

you start playing? How old were

you?

Metallica: Started playing guitar

when I was about 15 years old and

before that I had taken piano

lessons starting at age 8. My mom

made me take piano lessons when

everyone got to play football.

Hanson_slayer158 : What is your

opinion on Marilyn Manson and his

band?

Metallica: They fill a niche.

Johan1979 : James, are you surfing

the net a lot?

Metallica: Yes.

Jero_the_Pimp : What do you think

about Led Zeppelin?

Metallica: I've heard of them.

Probably one of the most exploratory

of all rock bands and highly

influential with the later Metallica

stuff.

John_C_Holmes : Is it true that

"Until It Sleeps" is about cancer,

more specifically throat cancer?

Metallica: It is about cancer.

Scott1357 : Is it harder to sing the

old songs or the new songs?

Metallica: They're all hard the older

ones take a lot more throat. the

newer ones take a lot more

endurance.

LifeSeemsDead : How does it feel

to be a pioneer of Metal, and almost

20 years later, still be one of the

forerunners of the style?

Metallica: This is what I've always

wanted to do and the fact that we still

can create a type of "therapy" for us

and that other people enjoy it as well

is quite satisfying!

Kgillan2000 : Is it hard touring now

that you have a new baby?

Metallica: It was more difficult to

leave that it has been. I only got to

spend 10 days with her.

Kurt_2010 : Where did you come

up with the name "Metallica"?

Metallica: Lars stole it from a list of

magazine titles that a friend was

trying to get together in possibly

1980 or 81.

PitStainBob : What do you think of

the state of music today?

Metallica: There's two kinds of

music - "good" or "bad" and we are

all the judge of that!

Metal211 : Is there going to be an

instrumental song on the next

album?

Metallica: We haven't written it yet.

We never say never!

Worx_98 : Do you like Megadeth?

Metallica: There's some good

songs. Not the most exciting live

band.

guest_d8d36985 : Who do you

consider the best guitarist?

Metallica: Best guitarist ever?

Hummm Well there's a few that I

consider good in their own worlds.

Jimmy Page for his mad scientist

approach. Johnny Ramone of the

Ramones for developing a fast down

picking style. Angus Young for his

simplistic but tasty leads.

Travis_turner : Do you prefer

standard or regular tuning?

Metallica: He he he whatever fits the

song.

Dmljr : Do you guys feel optimistic

about the future of guitar oriented

music? Or do you see bands

heading towards computer oriented

sound effects?

Metallica: They'll never be able to

get rid of the guitar, you need the

guitar to feed the machines!

AshenK : Are the rumors true about

Metallica recording the new James

Bond theme??

Metallica: No. But I like the name

James a lot.

Spokes3 : What is your best

highlight of touring over the years

what sticks out the most?

Metallica: Almost skidding in the

first Internet accident just earlier. No,

playing to over 1/2 million people in

Moscow.. Watching a stadium burn

in Indonesia while you're playing stuff

like that.

Scott1357 : Who can drink the most

beers in the band?

Metallica: Well, if you would ask me

that 5 years ago, I would definitely

say ME. But I don't think anyone

drinks beer now. They've moved

onto heroin. Ha ha ha.

MetaL_mILITIA_boy : How did you

get your band together?

Metallica: Lars called me and

wouldn't start bugging me. Lars and I

first jammed that was the initial

formation and over the course of the

next years, found other musicians

we could live with

Diogodpc : Do you change setlists

during the show?

Metallica: During the show

sometimes if it is an encore, we

have a few different choices,

depending on how the crowd feels

or if we remember if we've played

that song; but usually alternates

during the encore.

FREHLEYCOMET : WHAT DO

YOU THINK OF THE 98" KISS

REUNION?

Metallica: Um hehe I didn't know

they went away. It's very novel but

fun. At their age, to still rock like that

I admire that. To wear 100lbs of

plastic I admire that.

Wrv26 : Are you mad at

Phil(Pantera)about what he said

about you guys.

Metallica: I don't get to mad at how

the press interprets people's

comments. He seems a bit lost.

Somehow gaining fans through

cheap shots.

Metallica: Hi, This is Jason and

Heavy Metal is alive and well in

Cleveland Ohio. Cuyahoga Falls

same difference.

Lestat_74 : In your opinion, what

album did you have the most fun

working on?

Metallica: The last one "Reload"!!!

Blackviolets187 : Who was your

hero growing up?

Metallica: Uh I guess there was a

couple of musicians. Geddy Lee of

Rush, Gene Simmons of Kiss, That's

pretty much it.

MastaPO76 : What do you think

about rap?

Metallica: It depends who 's doing it.

Some of it is good some of it is not.

Ice Cube is probably the best

rapper. Dre puts down some good

beats. The freshest is Dr. Octagon. I

like NWA and Tupac was good for a

while. But the new flavor of Dr.

Octagon is where it's at!

FITP : How was your transition when

you replaced Cliff Burton. What was

the response from the fans like?

Metallica: It was a very difficult

transition and most of the response

from the fans was positive. But it

was about a five year test I would

say.

Scalean : What do you think of

Primus covering your tunes?

Metallica: Great. I think that Primus

is kick ass ! and they can do what

ever they want. Les is good friends

with Kirk and we have great respect

for the band.

Kilhefner : How do you think your

fans in the late 90's compare with

those in the mid 80's?

Metallica: They're a little bit older ha

ha. The passion is the same. The

age bracket may have grown in

different directions, but the only

difference is the diversity in the

crowd.

Chocolate_moose : What would

you say to kids who want to quit

school and become rock stars?

Metallica: Do NOT DO IT! The most

important in today in 1998 is to have

a proper education. If you don't have

that foundation you will be left

behind.

Billygoat_1998_98 : Are you guys

gonna do a Rock-a-Billy album?

Metallica: Sure why not!! There are

no more rules anymore for Metallica!

Nactniap : How was it working with

Sepultura?

Metallica: Like a dream come true

baby!

LADYMONTEGUE : Do you ever

miss your long hair and beer days?

Metallica: I still enjoy beer very much

and my hair is fine.

Chocolate_moose : What do you

think of Howard Stern?

Metallica: Not much.

IRON_MAN_007 : Do your like the

way metal is changing or do your

think that it is going downhill?

Metallica: I feel that it again on the

upswing. I am positive that it is on

the upswing. There are a lot of new

bands taking it to new places like

Deftones, Sepultura, Soulfly, Limp

Bizkit.

Norem0rse : Jason, do you ever

talk to the guys from Flotsam and

Jetsam?

Metallica: Yes, we keep in pretty

close contact.

Dustty23 : Who is your favorite pro

wrestler?

Metallica: Ha ha. Baron Von

Raschke.

Psychoeagle : How did you come

up with the new symbol ?

Metallica: James drew it on the front

of a notebook one day. It is the

forever spinning Ninja star

representing the four members of

Metallica spinning in a constant

motion.

Xiayen : What do you guys think

about Slayer staying with speed

metal?

Metallica: Good for them. I think

Slayer are the best at what they do.

I'm glad they are still doing what they

are doing if they are happy. And as

an educated music listener they

haven't grown it's the same music

with a different cover and the guitar

solos are elementary and amateur

they haven't changed at all in that

respect... but the drummer is killer!

Wackyguest_2ab939624 : Do you

like it when the crowd smokes

marijuana at your concerts?

Metallica: If they're enjoying it. Yes,

it doesn't bother me.

Enrayge : Do you guys know Candy

Striper Death Orgy? They are up

and coming. Very heavy metal. They

have played with Gwar.

Metallica: No idea.

Rebecca1982 : What’s your favorite

movies?

Metallica: Freaks. A movie from the

late 20s about freaks.

Johan1979 : Jason, you getting

married soon too, eh??

Metallica: Nope.

JusticeChick : What inspired The

Unforgiven Two?

Metallica: The Unforgiven One.

Lord_whiplash : How do you feel

about people calling you sell out's?

Metallica: We sell out every show.

It's sold out tonight not a bare seat in

the house!

MetalliFuKKer : Who's cum is it on

the cover of Load?

Metallica: Not sure. No one that you

know.

JackWraith : What tune could you

crack the most skulls to?

Metallica: Refuse Resist by

Sepultura.

Nomoreus : I have heard that the

misfits were a major influence, what

do you think of the new Misfits

without Glenn?

Metallica: I think it's okay but it's

without Glen!

Travis_turner : What movie are the

clips in "One" from?

Metallica: Johnny Got his Gun.

Napyj : Do you ever play "Orion"

during your concerts?

Metallica: Just segments.

Metallicasmistress : When are you

going to do the next video?

Metallica: As far as I know there

won't be any more videos from

Reload. But there will be a full IMAX

film coming out on Theater’s and

Interactive DVD.

Chocolate_moose : What do you

think about President Clinton and

this whole Ken Starr thing?

Metallica: God bless it. If he can get

younger bitches like that fuck

everybody for wasting their time on

this. Let's get on with more important

business than wasting our time and

dollars on frivolous crap!

Holierthanthou88 : Could you guys

kick Megadeth's ass in a fight, even

though there's no current.

Torino98 : Is it true that Kirk was a

student of Joe Satriani?

Metallica: Yes.

Voodoo23_1998 : Jason when you

gonna go solo?

Metallica: Uh. I'm doing projects all

the time with other people. But as far

as doing a full solo project, that

probably won't happen. It'll probably

be a group of four people a band

with a name. I don't plan on Metallica

stopping it'll probably be within the

time that we are going.

Happy_2_99 : How many more

albums until you retire?

Metallica: Impossible to say

somewhere between 2 and 500.

Abner_Jones : Is Burton a better

Bass Player in your opinion???

Metallica: Better than who? I would

say for the most part that Cliff Burton

is one of the top five electric

bassists in electric music that will

ever live.

Prozack_chulo : Why don't you

play the slow melodic part of four

horsemen and why do you skip it.

Metallica: Uh there's really no

reason and it never presented itself

when I was in the band that section

is non-eventful as part of that piece.

Aporras2 : Jaymz, which song is

your least favorite and why?

Metallica: Jason here right now it's

"Until it Sleeps" because it's too

freakin sleepy.

Drownx : What kind of guitar was

your very first, and do you still own

it?

Metallica: It was a Kay instruments

EB Bass and I don't own it anymore.

Sir_Ilia :I want to ask what is the

funniest story with Metallica ? :-)

Metallica: The funniest story I'd have

to say that. We were flying from

Australia to New Zealand for a show

in a private plane. And about a little

over 1/2 way to our destination; one

of our engines went out and we had

to decide if we should turnaround to

get a fresh plane to go all the way

back or to continue on to land and to

not be sure to have a plane to get to

our destination. While still on the

plane and we actually flew back to

get a fresh plane. It wasn't

necessarily a funny story; but we all

remember it and we're all still alive

to tell it.

Metallica: Sorry we didn’t' have