Lars Ulrich was born in Gentofte, Demark on December, 26th, 1963. Lars' father is Torben Ulrich, a pro tennis player with an interest in Jazz. Lars was introduced to music when his father received tickets to a Deep Purple concert in 1973. This concert left a big impression on him. By age 13 he had his first drumkit. Lars and his family moved to Newport Beach from Denmark in 1980. His parents hoped this would help him focus on tennis, which he had been neglecting in favour of his interest: music. Eventually he abandoned tennis and became interested in NWOBHM. (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.) Around this time, he met up with James Hetfield and part of his band, Leather Charm. The first meeting was unsucessful. Shortly afterward he went to Enlgand where he attened a Diamond Head concert. He spent two months 'hanging' with the band before returning home with an even more intense passion for music. He called Hetfield again until he agreed to meet with Lars a second time, along with bassist Ron McGovney. This was the birth of a band called Metallica.
Lars was married on January, 27th 1997!! Wedding photo from So What! magazine. (Courtesy of Ollie Stipe)
Other info:
Height: 5' 7"
Eyes: green
Hair: blond/brown
James
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3rd, 1963 in Downey, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He began his interest in music after his mother died, as a comfort and escape from an unhappy reality. After moving in with his brother-in-law in La Brea, James met a group of young men who shared an interest in music. They formed a garage band called Obsession, which did covers of Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath. His next project was Leather Charm, for which he was a vocalist. The band also featured a bassist named Ron McGovney. This band would write the song that would give Metallica its start - "Hit The Lights." James was approached by a young Dane named Lars Ulrich, who finally convinced him to start another band. They recorded a rough impromptu version of "Hit the Lights" for Brian Slagel, who put it on his first Metal Massacre compelation album. The rest, is history! Some of Jaymz' favourite activities include: hunting, fishing, and smoking Cuban cigars. He is currently living in Novato, California.
As all long time fans know, Jayms is also amazingly accident-prone. Here is a list of only a few of his injuries:
40 stitches on his head from an ATV accident.
Compound fracture of both bones in his left forearm requiring two metal plates, screws and 85 stitches.
Broke left wrist while skateboarding during Ozzy tour
Severe burns (2nd degree) on face, left arm and hand from pyro accident during the Roam tour - required skin grafts.
Other info:
Height: 6' 1"
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
James was married on Aug 17, 1997 and there are rumors that he and his wife are expecting.
Oh yes...he's also a bit of a Raiders fan.
kirkKirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett was born on November 18, 1962 in the Mission District of San Francisco. Kirk was a well known guitarist in the Bay Area with his band Exodus, which he formed in 1981. James and Lars heard an Exodus tape and were impressed by Hammett. At this time, Metallica was made up of James, Lars, Dave Mustaine (currently in Megadeth) and Cliff Burton. They invited Kirk to jam with them in New York. At first Hammet thought it might be a joke, but it wasn't. The chemisry was right, and on April 16, 1983, Kirk played his fist gig as a member of Metallica.
Other info:
Height: 5' 8"
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Hobbies:
Playing guitar
Horror (Horror-related comics and toys.)
Mountain Biking.
Self description: "suffers from mental unrest, hyperactive, soothed by playing guitar"
Kirk Links:
The Metallica Club's Kirk Bio
Sources: So What! The Metallica Club Magazine and Metallica Unbound, The Unofficial Biography By K.J. Doughton, Warner Books Inc., New York, NY, © MCP, Inc. 1993. Pgs. 45-49
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Jason Newsted was born on March 4th, 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan. Jason's interest in music began when his family moved to Kalamazoo, where he turned his focus from academics to music. Jason was so impressed by Gene Simmons of Kiss, that he bought his first bass and a small amp. Newsted quit school three months before graduation, and headed for Los Angeles. On the way, he made a pit stop in Phoenix, Arizona and decided to stay. In Phoenix, Jason formed a band called DOGZ, later to be re-named Flotsam and Jetsam, which made it onto Brian Slagel's seventh Metal Massacre album. It was Slagel, who mentioned Jason to Metallica, after the death of their former bassist Cliff Burton. The remaining members of Metallica met with Jason in Tommy's Joint, where they announced that they would hire him as their new bass player.
Other info:
Height: 5' 9"
Eyes: blue
Hair: brown/red
No, Jason didn't attend Dobson High. (Or any other High School in Arizona.)
Jason has been in many other bands and has many side projects. Here is a list of a few of them:
Bands:
Diamond, 1977
Gangster, 1980
Paradox, 1982
Dogz, 1983
Flotsam and Jetsam, 1984
Metallica, 1986-present.
Side Projects:
Maxwell Ranchouse Bands, 1986 to present.
Mike, 1986-present
Avoid, 1989
Sepultallica, 1992
Kopper Biskits, 1992
Long Ass Johnny and the Fabulous Y-tones, 1993
VooDoo Children, 1993
GrooveStang, 1993
Pale, 1994
Judas, 1994
Fatso, 1994
Dregnet, 1994
Spastik Children
IR8
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