Spinner did an interview with James Hetfield and here are some of the answers.
Listening to 'Death Magnetic' and the rest of your catalog, Metallica certainly knows how to write a live anthem or two.
Being the singer and the cheerleader of sorts I have to know what parts will be good for singing along and getting crowds motivated. You don't really know what's going to work until you get in that situation, but in the studio I try to identify with parts that the crowd will join in on without becoming too corny. Quite a few bands try to write the ultimate live anthem and it becomes very corny.
What song do you consider to be the ultimate live anthem?
AC/DC is pretty good at that. They've got quite a few: 'For Those About to Rock,' 'Hell's Bells.' You can usually tell a song has become very anthem-y if you hear them at a sporting event, like a football game. The Oakland Raiders here come out to 'Hell's Bells,' the big bells at the beginning. It becomes not so much about the song, it becomes the feel in the stadium. So, 'Hell's Bells' is pretty darn good.
Metallica have been on numerous world tours, performing with rock's elite. Which tour is the most memorable?
The obvious one is the first big tour with Ozzy Osbourne -- that was 'Master of Puppets' and we were supporting Ozzy through the States. That was pretty unbelievable. We, at that point, felt it was pretty much it -- we had made it and we could die now. But obviously there was more in store for us.
Can you recall one album or concert that made you realize that music was what you wanted to do?
Absolutely. That was Aerosmith and AC/DC, 1978 at Long Beach Arena. That was unbelievable -- the vibe. I went with my older brother and I just knew that I wanted to feel this every night. And for some reason, thank god, it has happened.
