Lars Ulrich can't play GH Metallica

By Robert Purchese Published 23 March, 2009

"I look like a complete f***ing klutz."

Metallica founder Lars Ulrich is embarrassed that his children can recreate his drum parts in Guitar Hero: Metallica better than he can.

"I look like a complete f***ing klutz because I can drum them in real-life, but obviously there are slight modifications when it's transcribed for the game," Ulrich told Blender. "I have it inbred in me how to play these songs, but then I have to sit and look at little dots on a screen and try to figure out how to play it the way it's transcribed.

"Meanwhile, my 10-year-old and my 7-year-old are shredding on the guitars. It's kind of a mindf***, sitting there, with my 45 years of semi-glory, and getting toasted by my kids."

Ulrich was equally vocal about looking ridiculous while recording motion-capture footage for the game, and likened his appearance to that of a fat Christmas tree.

"You're Joe F***ing Cool - you've got all these people looking at you - and you're just f***ing up the motion-capture," he said.

"And the mo-cap suit certainly doesn't add to your confidence. It looks like some sort of f***ing aerobic, spandex suit, and it's f***ing seven sizes too small. It certainly emphasizes all that extra f***ing dessert that you shouldn't have had.

"And you've got all these f***ing reflective balls on the suit," he added. "You basically look like a f***ing Christmas tree!"

Goodness me. Wash your mouth out with soap. Guitar Hero: Metallica is due out for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PS2 in May.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (25) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Retroid #1 3 years ago

    I'd post a comment but Metallica might sue me.

    /Gets sued

  • Jasugun #2 3 years ago

    *** *** **** **** *** **** *** *** fucking *** ** *** ***?
    *** *** *** fuck ** **** *** fucking ** *** ***!!

  • loeffe #3 3 years ago

    Yes, he can play those drum tracks in real life.. just barely...

  • Cataferal #4 3 years ago

    I think somebody needs a hug...

  • jaxon58 #5 3 years ago

    One of the reasons he probably struggles is because he pisses about with the songs so much live, he's probably forgotten how he played them on the original recordings.

  • Dr.Mott #6 3 years ago

    What annoys me about Lars Ulrich:

    1. His voice
    2. The awful drum sound on most Metallica albums
    3. The double bass pedal wankery
    4. The faces he pulls while he's playing

    There's more, but that's the gist of it.

  • EvilBob_leeds #7 3 years ago

    SHouldn't be that much of a surprise. He's sounded like a complete fucking klutz on everything since ...And justice for all.

  • jonsaan #8 3 years ago

    He should try it using the regular controller. Oh that's right you can't! INSTAFAIL.


    ;)

  • M_of_the_sys #9 3 years ago

    "I look like a complete f***ing klutz."

    I'm sorry? Is this something new?

  • Kyle #10 3 years ago

    FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

  • kangarootoo #11 3 years ago

    "One of the reasons he probably struggles is because he pisses about with the songs so much live"

    All drummers do that. Its the beauty of playing drums, so long as the groove is the same we never have to play the same thing twice :)

  • elephant_stone #12 3 years ago

    Its common knowledge that real guitar players cant play guitar on GH or RB and drummers cant play the drums either. It 'cause its nothing like playing the real thing - especially the guitar.

    Still doesn't stop Lars & co being nobs.

    Napster FTW

  • andromeda #13 3 years ago

    Pen15

  • kangarootoo #14 3 years ago

    "and drummers cant play the drums either"

    I agree that many guitarists find GH hard going, but I would question whether drummers don't get an advantage. Just being able to control your limbs with a degree of independance is a huge advantage.

    I don't think Lars' issue is that he plays drums perse, but that he knows the Metallica drum lines very well and plays them automatically. I would say that a player sitting down to follow a drum track they have not heard before would have an advantage is they were already a drummer.

  • kinky_mong #15 3 years ago

    I think the issue is because Guitar Hero note charts bare little resemblance to the original tracks most of the time.

  • aphexstwin #16 3 years ago

    biting the hand that feeds eh lars? its not that hes got the songs ingrained, its because hes shit. i instinctively knew how to play livin on a prayer, are you gonna go and others coz i played them in my old band (drums) with only one or two changes coz theres only two cymbals and two toms versus 4 and 3 on my kit respectively. being a drummer helped me immensely when it came to ghwt

  • kangarootoo #17 3 years ago

    Dude, the drums in Living on a Prayer are hardly a good comparison. They are basically the same simple rhythm all the way through, with occasional use of the ride instead of the hihat. Are you gonna go my way is a bit tougher, but its still not what you would call a technical track.

    I know its all very fashionable to call Lars a shit drummer, but he isn't really is he. I'm not huge fan of his drumming and I'll happily admit he isn't up there with the best ever, but are we really starting to suggest the reason he can't play Guitar Hero is because he can't play the drums very well?

  • M_of_the_sys #18 3 years ago

    Nope... because he's a twat.

  • kangarootoo #19 3 years ago

    I can't argue with that :)

  • aphexstwin #20 3 years ago

    i was referring to the fact of you dont need to know the note charts to be able to play the song to a decent level. and yes, he is a shit drummer in todays and even yesterdays rock music. if you were to take the best bands of say the last 20-30 years he doesnt come close to the best drummers, from moon to bonham, portnoy, mcbrain to modern greats like danny carey or igor cavalera. hes got fuck all on any of them.

  • jaxon58 #21 3 years ago

    My mum is a shit drummer. Lars isn't.

  • JahB #22 3 years ago

    he doesnt come close to the best drummers, from moon to bonham, portnoy, mcbrain to modern greats like danny carey or igor cavalera. hes got fuck all on any of them.

    well, just a name engraved in metal history. and albums the like of master of puppets, ride the lightning, and ...and justice for all. as good as the drummers you named are, none of them has ever been part of the metal masterclass that lars ulrich has been. like him or not (as a person i certainly can't stand him), but the man has more musical legacy than 99,9% of the drummers out there.

    and he certainly plays better than you do

  • kangarootoo #23 3 years ago

    "My mum is a shit drummer. Lars isn't."

    I think that pretty much sums up the absence of perspective that is creeping in here. Lars may not be in the top 50 drummers of all time, but he is in no way a shit drummer.

    As previously stated jaxon58's mum is a shit drummer (no offense dude). I am (I hope) rather better than jaxon58's mum, but generally not as good as most of the drummers I meet (and I cry myself to sleep every night). Now we can get into discussions about whether Lars is better than Bonham, or better than Jordison, or better than Gadd, but really they are all bloody amazing.

    On that subject, for those into drummers with groove as well as the bonkers skilz, check out this clip from 2m45s for an understated work of genius (they are all good players, but sometimes less is more).

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=Ln6b_nBM-V8

  • spammage #24 3 years ago

    Lars Ulrich in complete useless prick shocker! This is hardly new worthy is it?

    Metallica have been in the most part, creatively bankrupt since the sad departure of Cliff Burton but I will end up buying this anyway.

  • PhilEvilz #25 3 years ago

    Good god this guy needs to calm down.

    The motion capture has been over and done with, and it's a fucking game!