Robert Trujillo on his audition for Metallica

[@TonyFrickey-ur9jy]

Robert seems like a humble dude. A guy I would get along with.

[@karagravis]

He seems like every actual great person I've ever met, every truly excellent man or woman. They're all chill people who just focus all of themselves into exceeding.

[@Topjunkie-r4s]

Robert is SO much more of a bass player than just Metallica. He is a fan first of the greats like Rocco Prestia. He is awesome in Metallica but could adapt and play in any band, any genre

[@kskip4242]

He's literally Jerry Cantrell's bassist for Jerry's new album.

[@muriloninja]

Even he has regressed playing in Metallica. Playing in Metallica is not for a "musician" who wishes to explore, play a ton of music, experiment. It's a grueling slave to the grind that is Q-Prime management. That alone is the biggest challenge IMO, being capable of playing the music is amateurish in comparison. I have played for 30+ years and Metallica music is not "challenging" in and of itself. The length of show will require a players stamina 100% (this is a real challenge make no mistake about it), then the microscopic bubble you have to live in. Yeah, I see more challenges on the "admin" side of it than the musical but that's just part of being a member of the greatest goddamn Heavy Metal band to ever exist on this planet. It's a small club as Newsted put it and I agree!

[@safe-tactcrap2922]

Same as Jason but they were already grown up a old by then

[@modev4163]

My musical memory starts a year or two before load, i remember him in ozzy i liked his style

[@modev4163]

​@@muriloninjaAs someone whos played over 20 years, pretty spot on...but Rob deserved the payday! As a musician i will always write but money is money

[@JayKe-mh8ev]

Band made right choice. Knocked it out park with Rob

[@Peteski510]

Absolutely. Rob strikes me as a balance between the more reserved persoanlity of Kirk and the alpha Ulrich/Hetfield dynamic. Perfect for the band. And he's an incredible player as well.

[@schnozz87]

​​@@Peteski510Yeah basically he's calm and cool but also totally un-intimidated by James or Lars (both musically and physically/temperamentally)

[@HumbleBasse]

True but in the same time Trujilo is wasting his time with them

[@omcorc]

Alpha? No. Just no.

[@JockJab]

He's a waste of talent in the band and lacks the personality to be in a band like Metallica. It's a lose - lose situation.

[@saggyshaggy3272]

Rob gave me a hug before starting their set in Boston a few weeks ago. Great guy

[@t1mesh1ft10]

Foxborough?

[@saggyshaggy3272]

@t1mesh1ft10 yes

[@majorfeelgoodrecords2740]

He’s great. I also loved him playing with Ozzy.

[@scotttan9211]

I loved him with Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves too🎸🎼❤ 🎸🎶🎸🎸

[@GreatCircle360]

Saw him in ST, he was a monster player with great presence. Rob has been killing it for years.

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

definitely, I saw him play with ST as well. He got to show off a bit in songs like Send me your money but we got the real deal on Infectious Grooves.

[@seansutube5791]

very cool interview. Why are the bass players the coolest folks in this band lol

[@jrobbin24]

They're all cool. I can obviously see why most people don't like Lars but I'd still like to meet any of them.

[@BlastinRope]

Because bassists dont have the ego problems of guitarists and vocalists nor the brain damage of drummers

[@kylemyers5940]

You get into playing guitar, your first reason was probably to get girls. Play drums, your thought was to get famous. Lead singer, you want to be a rockstar. A bass player doesn't get all that, and therefore starts because they like music; and being in a huge band like Metallica and being around other acts like Ozzy, etc. you have to be able to deal with all sorts of personalities

[@weilim10]

Careful, Gene Simmons might chew your toes off.

[@PostUp_Time]

Nikki Six is a tool so is gene Simmons

[@TOGade-dj6jh]

Robert is one amazing player. He is the only one that could keep up after Cliff and Jason and his sound and style is awesome. ✊🏻🤘🏻

[@mattlovesdrums69]

so happy he did this interview. the whole time in Some Kind of Monster when you see him picking basses with Zack Harmon, it seems like he’s being real quiet and calculated, but bro is internally fighting for his life hahaha also crazy to hear that Lars was still approaching these auditions like it was a 1986 all over again. it seems that Lars was still in denial that he was quickly approaching 50 and needed to simmer down on the partying. very interesting

[@chrisselfridge9841]

Lars was about 40 then.

[@singleproppilot]

Those guys were all party animals. Get drunk, play a show, go to the after party, get even more drunk, get laid, pass out on the bus on the way to the next town. Wake up at 3pm. Start drinking again, and repeat.

[@smanvir94]

Near the end of the doc rob does look proper hangover when theyre talkin about the band shares and documentry money

[@selvmortsydd]

Lars was 36 by then idiot...😅

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

Yeah, I had no idea he was hung over. That's an interesting part of the story. Love that he got the gig though. The guy showed up prepared and nailed the audition.

[@BassRocket]

Surfing Tahiti to jamming with Metallica, what a jam.

[@Dangerman5]

It’s funny that I still see him as the new guy when he’s been there almost 25 years lol

[@bandolierboy1908]

Longer than any other Metallica bassist lol

[@daslupus4303]

Rob saved Metallica. He is exactly what they needed to pull it together again.

[@puncrock2952]

He didn't save them from releasing st anger

[@daslupus4303]

@@puncrock2952 no body is perfect. At least we still have Metallica.

[@puncrock2952]

@@daslupus4303💯, they were my favorite band growing up, inspired me to learn how to play, and it's good to see them unlike so many others, avoid the crash and burn early career fatality

[@counterfit5]

​@@puncrock2952he wasn't in the band yet, those parts were recorded by Bob Rock

[@Godfather5400]

@@puncrock2952saved? All the music people listen to by them and 95% of the stuff they play concerts was recorded like 10 years before Robert joined 😂 they were amazing until the black album then it all went downhill after that

[@nickelmypickle]

I watched that video of the auditions and I literally couldn’t tell he was so badass!!!

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

You hadn't seen him play with Suicidal or Infectious Grooves?

[@nickelmypickle]

@ I’m late to the party but I’m here now and I’m slowly going through all the greats. I just watched some videos today and he is a national treasure always puts a smile on my face to see him

[@rebelofbabylon3091]

People dont give Rob enough credit and keep harping on about Jason but the truth is Rob is an absolute beast on bass and gives the band a much bigger sound.

[@puncrock2952]

Sounds like you're the one making it a contest- besides, Cliff Burton, to me, is the great differentiator out of the three but I think it's safe to say anyone playing bass in Metallica is a beast

[@rebelofbabylon3091]

@@puncrock2952 nope i see it everywhere where people keep saying jason is better. All 3 have been great in their own way but a lot of people are stuck on jason

[@abrahamgastelum8430]

Rob is a better bass player, no doubt about it, but Jason with the backing vocals made hetfield voice and vocal sound much more intense..

[@Daddy53751]

I’ve never given Jason much thought, to be honest. A very good player and backup singer for sure, but imo he never brought anything in the way of creativity. Simply slaving the guitar lines. Burton always brought something extra into the music by working within the structure, but expanding the songs, rather than just slaving the guitars. It’s just sad that it took so long to be able to really hear all the extra, via the internet, as the bass was so buried in the mix. (Not as buried as Newstead was of course, but still buried)

[@puncrock2952]

@@Daddy53751 from what I've heard from Jason when he was in flotsam & jetsam he's a thrash player- intricacy and crisp fast alternate picking better suited for a speed metal outfit than black album and the two that followed.

[@JJDrumsChannel]

My only question is how can Lars drink like that and keep it together? Haha. That guy is an animal!

[@muriloninja]

As small as he is, that little Danish fucker embraced the Rockstar lifestyle like no other. Considering his coke usage in the past, drinking isn't shit for him! Not even shocked he would run Rob through the drinking ringer. Rob is just lucky it wasn't 1986 wherein Hetfield and the rest ran him through the ringer. lol

[@Ottophil]

Cocaine. Its not even a secret

[@mrtiesthatbind]

He used cocaine extensively. Drinking is like a walk in the park for him 😂

[@timothymcnaughton531]

Years of experience hahaha.

[@Thisistheway2050]

Because his drumming is very rudimentary.

[@dantovey2785]

He nailed the audition too (you looked the coolest, quote from James on Some Kind of Monster, always makes me laugh)

[@jenshagelstein7695]

as a MetallicA fan for more than 40 years, I really like the new guy.

[@karlimo4034]

New guy now has more years in Metallica than Jason and Cliff. Yes, we are getting damn old.

[@jenshagelstein7695]

@@karlimo4034 😀 absolutely

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

lol the new guy is pretty cool!

[@seethroughhead505]

If he'd have said "No thanks Lars, I'm going to get some sleep and get up early to prepare for the audition tomorrow", would he have been considered unsuitable for the band?

[@JonnySublime]

Probably

[@TracyC-nj2tq]

Robert is the MAN!

[@bonscott6353]

They saw his upper body and quickly decided against any potential hazing

[@Otto-1943]

Seriously?Metallica guys were like 40 at that time they grew up from that stupid hazing shit

[@rycor9117]

doubt it I think they just matured and dealt with the loss of Cliff

[@jlobiafra]

Relax im sure its a joke.​@@Otto-1943

[@jlobiafra]

Or they knew he had ties to suicidal gang members 😮

[@Godfather5400]

@@rycor9117 have you not heard how they treated Jason Newstead? 😂 maybe like they learned from their mistakes with Jason

[@camiloandresromeromendez5891]

On top of that you’re now telling me Rob did the audition heavily hangover, with barely 4 hours of sleep and still nailed it? What a legend !

[@b3014003ric]

infectuous grooves

[@yolandacroes5491]

Since everybody have already commented on his bass playing skils and contribution to Metallica, may I comment on his ruggedly handsome looks? 🔥🔥

[@nicholaslynch522]

All 3 bass players for Metallica were great. Jason will always be my favourite.

[@goldenwolf8081]

Cliff was a musical genius, Jason was a force to be reckon with on stage, but rob is kinda a little bit of the two put together, he can play like Cliff did with fingers, but at times his own backing vocals have been awesome. Like Jason, rob is an epic bassist.

[@madblackcat1]

“Lars, our drummer” 😲👌

[@ChrisBabez]

Disrespectful

[@djtrendsetta5766]

Yeah, I laughed at that one. As if Ulrich needs any introduction.

[@marcblum5348]

​@@djtrendsetta5766 same thought. Hilarious.

[@symptomoftheuniverse4149]

Once in awhile a band gets it right, this is one of them.

[@Coda6766]

I've been a fan of Rob's since his Suicidal Tendencies/ Infectious Grooves and Black Label days.

[@light-bearer-1]

People seem to misunderstand this "hazing of Newsted". They did this, because they wanted to "beat" the fan out of him, because they wanted a brother, not to babysit a fan, basically wanting to get on with it. Trujillo got the job, because he had more relatability to the guys, for example; playing at the best venues with Ozzy one night, then the next playing at the local puke house with Black Label Society, that road dog lineage provided an instant connection, then you had the fact that Rob made Metallica play, sound better. His dynamic, attack on the bass, his presence gave Metallica a new lease on life, sound that would carry them into the next 10-20 years of music relevance. Lars new this, he was aware of how the genre was evolving, understood that Trujillo has something to offer Metallica in that period of change. The boys didn't need to haze Rob, because Rob already went through it all before, he was already tough, he was already a veteran, they didn't need to babysit him like they did with Jason.

[@SacredLuzt777]

No, there's no excuse to justify their treatment of Jason. Rob seems like a great guy and what not, but by this time they didn't haze him because their "grieving period" had long ended. Jason deserved way more respect than being used as a bassist for hire.

[@kirkybabygo]

​@@SacredLuzt777exactly

[@leviathon18]

Rob didnt get hazed like newsted because he was already walking in the door as ozzys bass player, ex sucidal tendancies and toured with metallica in 90's, played in BLS basically lots of cool connections and respect.

[@MickAshMetalMan]

Doing something like that is so high school on Lars' part

[@rycor9117]

ahhhh it's ok

[@WoockerSocket2]

If James did it: what a smart way to test the new guy! 🤓

[@MickAshMetalMan]

@@WoockerSocket2 Ahh, stupid KZbin, won't let me tell what I REALLY think of you! You are very, very wrong. I only said "Lars" because he specified that it was Lars. I wish you the worst.

[@joeaardvark9214]

It's a thrash metal band? They're not recruiting a new Human Resources lady..

[@tellemstevedave5559]

Metallica was known for being the drunkest band of the 80s and yet never canceling or ruining a show because of drinking, it's honestly a very fair test for the band.

[@davidfox7983]

That's a great story..

[@jarrellv8035]

yeah, I just heard about that story on please show the video of your trying out the next day🙃🙃🥴🥴🥴

[@muriloninja]

Rob is solid! He fits them well for the time he joined to this day. Joining them in October 1986 is another matter entirely!

[@luminoxx5150]

😬

[@chrisselfridge9841]

Exactly. They were about 25 years old then.

[@Orietta-zf7de]

Robert is a very beatiful MAN!!!

[@ryant1892]

Rob is cooler than Metallica 😊 he helped reenergize Metallica as a whole .. they needed him , he didn’t really need them !!

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

Yeah, I guess Ozzy was paying Rob like Metallica does

[@wpetersejt]

He is talking just like he'd still have that hungover 😂😅 I love him

[@youdontknowmestopasking1173]

Not only he can slap bass, he slaps himself

[@gansior4744]

People underestimate him, but his Lines in DM and hardwired are just nasty

[@SOLDOZER]

What bar is open till 5AM?

[@m0t0rbreathing]

A bar where Lars Ulrich sits down and decides not to get up until 5AM :)

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

It's Metallica man, normal rules don't apply to them

[@Creechimport]

I can't imagine a better base player for metallica than Robert

[@ChrisBabez]

Uhh, Newsted

[@Idonious]

Wow, so now I guess we know that the audition we see Rob do in the Some Kind of Monster documentary he did hanging out of his backside 😂 Fair play to the guy and evidently being hungover didn't stop him playing a great audition!

[@MrHop6]

Hope he wins the spot for metallica bassist..

[@m0t0rbreathing]

Yes, fervent prayers with him

[@gerardoalanis4016]

He made it to Tahiti!

[@Kroggnagch]

Larrs in eyeliner looks like Billy Joe lmfao

[@daveellis5100]

Recorded horizontally:)

[@PostUp_Time]

*WHAT ABOUT LARS, DID HE HAVE A HANG OVER. HOW DID HE PLAY DRUMS*

[@jamesb1988]

@PostUp_Time Lars doesn't get hung over, he's a machine. Also, coke helps lol.

[@clintstryder1131]

I think he should start another band or project. But im not up on his profile... maybe he does already. I can listen to him talk atleast and he's a great bass player.

[@SuperPol1981]

He has several. Listen to the metallica podcast, he’s a very frequent guest on there and he’s always busy with something.

[@ChristopherTreadway]

You have to give credit to someone that can come in and finger play the bass through Battery, while hungover. I know James and Lars were trying to change and be better people, but I think Robert really helped bring it all together.

[@ivankrushensky]

I always thought Rob was high in the audition video. This makes sense lol.....he was just really hungover.

[@friendlyskiespodcast]

what does he mean when Rob says that there wasn't time for him to get hazed when he officially joined the band? Like they were so busy touring or something? lol I think the guys at that point had already grown up and it was a completely different situation too, that's all.

[@dave78389]

That's a tough situation to be in, especially if you don't drink. It's like if you don't go out with Lars, you might annoy him or rub him the wrong way to a point that he convinces the band to not continue with you. Or do you just say "screw it, it's just a few drinks with the drummer for Metallica and this can totally change my life" but also risk the potential to start drinking heavily developing a problem. James gets a pass because he went through it already. Being sober for the last year, I dread situations like this all the time. Especially since I'm in business and drinking is a HUGE part of camaraderie and can really cement you into the "inner circle" of groups in our society.

[@wildae.]

Best bassist of Metallica

[@STORMCombatSystem]

Cliff was a virtuoso, Jason had the best presence on stage, but Robert in my opinion has the best sound of all Metallica bass players. He is a high level musician and a cool guy.

[@Glenn-e6c]

Legend true legend :)

[@Michael15_25]

I’ve known this story but never considered his perspective of James being sober and him feeling like a loser being hungover for his audition lol

[@mztweety1374]

They have excellent taste In bassists that’s for sure 😂😂😂

[@selvmortsydd]

Saw him many times with either ST and IG, never with Metallica though...Saw them only in 1990....

[@O8SOL3TE]

So in the SKOM movie, the clip where they show Rob choosing what bass he's gonna play and the roadie telling him Metallica has like 200 bass guitars, Rob is actually hammered out of his mind? lol.

[@JonnySublime]

Rob can go anywhere he wants, check the jealousy at the door and respect his decision. A decision that none of us will ever get to make.

[@djoverkin]

"Lars...uh, our drummer" Funny he had to qualify that

[@ridhowiranatakusumah6531]

Thats why he goy panda eyes durinh somekindofmonster doc

[@MM-tt3np]

He came from Ozzy and Ozzy took Jason... Audition? Not really, it was a done deal. It was all filmed so they needed some stuff for that ;)

[@BlackSpade72]

Lars Lurs Rob to go bar and drink until 5 am and next day to show up at the studio 😂😂😂 Lars is testing Rob to see if he can handle high stress with Metallica .😮

[@bigjared8946]

@1:18 "James is sober. He's, he's gone through uh, you know uh um uh, what's it called, rehab". So perfect. People still blah blah blah about Jason's death metal backup vocals but this guy is more Metallica in the ways that count.

[@garyrouleau4676]

He was auditioning Metallica! He has the skills to play with Zappa ffs!!!!

[@Manu_Thrasher]

larga vida al bajista de los 50 mil nombres

[@ryanslauderdale]

Lars probably was testing Rob, because Metallica used to go so hard back in the day, James went from looking like a shy college kid to looking like a 40 year old man within the span of about five years. That takes a lot of abuse and punishment, plus losing Cliff. Jason had to go through that, and while they didn’t want Rob’s situation to end up like Jason’s, they still had to see how much he could take, on and off the stage. Being the most well known metal band in the world comes with a very high price.

[@Metalandstuff]

Metallica did become Metallica again , when Robert did come into the band.

[@youMatterItDoesGetBetter]

Dude tore that try out up. Was just in the pocket.

[@nigelsmith721]

He has mastered the Metallica art of talking plenty but not giving anything away.

[@noeditbookreviews]

If I ever met him I'd ask him what it was like to play with Rocky George.

[@OmeezyHrndz]

You can't haze a guy that's skill level is on par if not even more technical than you. Wish they would've treated Jason the same. All 3 bass players great in their own right

[@Pinkranger87]

The hazing happened to Jason because of death of Cliff. So some of that hazing was them grieving

[@tonamg53]

The real audition was actually the drinking part…

[@Kaynos]

It actually sound like a test the way he saying the story.

[@YouRebelChief]

Everyone hates on Lars but to be able to do get wasted and go to sleep at 5 am and then go jam in the studio auditioning bass players and not let it be know that he’s hung over. It takes a special liver to do that.

[@stchristoforos199]

Halls covers the smell

[@danielfernandez7752]

Kinda sounded like Lars purposely wanted Rob to fail the audition ngl 💀

[@AnthraxTributeBand]

Na, it's a "can you keep up with us" thing. It's silly but it's something people do at times to make sure you're a good hang.

[@markmillares7788]

So rob was wasted in that legendary audition video? Cool.

[@jasonism123]

It doesn't matter who plays bass for Metallica. I can't hear their bass lines. 😂

[@omcorc]

How many people commenting are an original fan of Metallica?

[@lieke9460]

How nice from Lars to go for a drink !!!

[@deekay2]

Is this before or after Trujillo and Bordin screwed Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake on Ozzy's first 2 solo albums by recording over their original bass and drum tracks?

[@LP004]

No wonder he looked stoned or on something when he auditioned, he was hungover

[@mongi4435]

I think a lot of you bass players are great, but would you need to show Metallica is how you can write some new songs for them to bring them a level above the top where they are sitting. To me that would be a great bass player of all time.

[@FRANANGELICOONA]

Metal

[@MichaelDarker]

His story sort of reminds me of when the MMA/UFC fighter Jon Jones was being shit talked by Daniel Cormier and they were building the hype to their 2nd fight & Daniel Cormier who everyone hated back then said to the effect to Jon Jones, "You're nothing about druggie coke headed loser".. And Jon Jones tells him, "Yeah, I beat you the first time after doing cocaine all night.." LMFAO (sorry I know it wasn't the exact words-it was a long time ago and I'm sure someone can find it) But that's sort of the same thing with Rob here, he fuckin goes out drinking with one Lars Ulrich all night, gets up in the morning, and STILL KICKS THEIR ASSES & gets a million dollars, and gets to join the band. Fuckin' A man.. I hope I get to do something like that in the next life at least...

[@ReversedClips.]

I think Jason era was definitely the best. But rob was a good replacement

[@drunken-skunk]

Rob T...is incredible Bass Player! All.fast Fingers! His fingers is a Pick!! Lol So f.n..bad ass!!!😎🤟🤟🤟👏☝️💪🦾

[@DavidBlaske]

Who knew these days he's preaching to the choir.

[@bluecomet1109]

If james was still drinking in those days, there is no way rob would have survived lol. James could drink anyone under the table

[@nordimejia5790]

This guy is awsome... buy I still think that a big part of metallica died when jason left

[@JockJab]

The list of bassists in itself was surprisingly low tier considering it was for Metallica. In that list itself.. Rob was the best but they would have got a much more better personality than Rob.

[@kamealex]

James' doctor: "Stay away from people with drinking habits".

[@alwaystraining54]

He never fit the image of Metallica for me. Nothing against him or his playing.

[@rylanfernandes7371]

Why?

[@alwaystraining54]

@@rylanfernandes7371 🤷‍♂️

[@rylanfernandes7371]

@@alwaystraining54 then fuck off dude if you can’t back your opinion because the dude shreds

[@jordhancorrea4630]

Idk man. Seems like he brought the fun back to them.

[@SuperiorNizzle]

Same. I always see him as the new guy, even though he’s been in Metallica for 21 years or so. I’m a Jason purist I guess.

[@rebelfrogstudios375]

Just replace the drummer and you have a legit band that deserves this guy. He is a legend they don’t deserve.

[@design1of470]

Metallica gets the perfect bassist and Lars manages to almost mess it up

[@tobiascrow2792]

Great guy, great bass player, wrong guy for Metallica

[@Kindablue35]

Tribal chief

[@Ghostman1846]

Lars vs Bass players. I honestly believe Lars hates Bass.