James Hetfield recently revealed in an interview with SiriusXM that Tony Iommi, the Black Sabbath guitarist, has been a significant influence on his music. He also talked about the friendly rivalry he shares with fellow Metallica member Lars Ulrich, as they both have a deep desire to step into each other’s shoes and continually up their game.
According to Hetfield, he considers himself a ‘wanna-be drummer’ at heart, which has added a fun dimension to his relationship with Ulrich, who has dreamed of being a singer and guitarist.
“All of it stems from Tony Iommi. I mean, I’m still trying to outdo him. I know I never will, but I will continue to try, man. So a lot of it is about him and his inspiration with me. But I would say that my being a ‘wanna-be drummer’ has a lot to do with it. I mean, that’s really what I do; I play the drums on the guitar. I get to move cool notes around, you know, and Lars [Ulrich] and I share that. He wants to be a singer and a guitar player, and I want to be a drummer. We try to continue to impress each other, and that’s where some of that healthy competition comes from.”
Hetfield’s admiration for Tony Iommi is evident in Metallica’s latest album ’72 Seasons’. His friendly competition with bandmate Lars Ulrich has pushed them creatively to new heights, resulting in a fresh vibe on the tracks.