The Studio Drums of Lars Ulrich (Part 2) with Chris Russio - EP 245

The St. Anger Snare is finally figured out! Chris Russio joins me back on the podcast to do a super deep dive into all of the studio drum sets, cymbals, heads, sticks, accessories, percussion and everything else used by Lars Ulrich from 2001 to Today! We talk about all of the infamous St. Anger Snare drum and everything that went wrong with that album. Then we get into the recording of Death Magnetic, Hardwired to Self Destruct, and 72 Seasons. This closes out our Lars Deep dive and gives you the FULL story of all of Lars Ulrich's drums over the years.
Check out the other Lars episodes I have done with Chris here: • Lars Ulrich Gear Episodes
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[@michaelhuenger2738]

Loved all the Lars kit breakdowns. Excellent job! Would be amazing to see something at this level for Dave Lombardo’s gear break down

[@Curtis.720]

What a cool podcast so happy I found this! Please for the fans… we need a history of Vinnie Paul’s kits

[@rockdrummer80]

A few years back I took some drum lessons with Jon Dette, who was the drummer for Slayer for a few years in 1996. Also filled in for Charlie Benante of Anthrax. Anyway, when I took lessons with him he noticed that I have the Lars diamond plate snare and as we were talking about this he showed me on his kit that he uses Lar's scorched earth bell brass snare that was a prototype from Tama that Lars gave back cause he didnt care for it and the Tama rep at the time gave it to Jon

[@meanmetalmike666]

Bill Ward Drum Gear would be neat

[@chromebull884]

I am actually thinking about approaching him about this. I know most of his Sabbath gear but not the rest

[@meanmetalmike666]

@@chromebull884 Phil Rudd would be a interesting one too

[@ryj44]

Lars was right from day 1 of Metallica. He stuck to his guns no matter what anyone said or thought. This was awesome! Great job gentleman. Thank you for putting in the work/time to share all of this.

[@beyer66]

That’s not a pearl Optimount on Lars’s first kit that you showed. It’s a rims mount with a pearl holder on it

[@CW19941]

Lars is one of my first drumming influences! Awesome podcast! I love music history and finding all the details about equipment that was used for shows and recording 🤟🏻

[@chriscromelin413]

It would be cool if they did a retail version of that yellow kit. Probably his coolest looking kit since his white "Black Album" tour kit!

[@goddamnzordan]

he definitely used sabian hihat for Hardwired, you can see it in a lot of videos.

[@therandomrollercoasterride8751]

Been looking forward to this

[@garyyeoell]

If the Tama/Metallica project involves black retro hardware, my bank is going to hate me! I've enjoyed these shows so much! Thanks guys 🤘

[@doncarr6695]

There is a video of a meet and great where a fan brings a snare for Lars to sign. Lars, takes the snare and taps on it with and something like that’s the sound of whatever millions of albums sold. Then he turns it off and says that’s the sound or St. Anger.

[@DeadDad1]

I really love this podcast! Thank you!

[@I.Milanov]

this has been an epic series, loved it! Would you consider doing the same for Vinnie Paul and his studio/live gear, thnx!

[@Groovedump]

@14:09 The snare is an Ayotte & I think it’s a Kepplinger (heavy steel) snare? I could see that perhaps being the St anger culprit? Not blaming the drum. (As a Kep is awesome.) But like a BB perhaps it can be a loud unruly beast if not properly tamed?!? 😅

[@andrewpappas9311]

I found this channel a few weeks ago when I stumbled across the first Lars video and have been enjoying them ever since, great video as always and I'd love to see a video on Nick Mason from Pink Floyd at some point

[@MasshoffDrums]

Sorry I was too quick! You are right about the Jasper shells and the 12".Its a 13" 6 Lug...

[@MasshoffDrums]

Lars is not playing Pearl...there you go.The toms at 16.25 minutes are definetely NOT Pearl Toms!! These are Gretsch Walnut probably from the 1980s toms in 8x12 and 12x14 with Pearl Optimounts. I can t verify the silver sparkle snare but with this kit we can see an Ayotte steel snare and the Tama BB as well. Hope that helps. Great video guys!

[@yannyloyer7177]

great show guys. that first kit is def not pearl optimounts. looks like rims system with pearl brakets and arms. prob belong to ross Garfield

[@markcoledrumteacher]

Agree. Those look like vintage RIMS mounts. They look exactly like the ones I use that I bought around 1990.

[@QNC]

I feel like with the st anger snare sound they were going for the late 90s early 2000s open and ringy snare found in some hardcore bands such as e town concrete. Unfortunately, the snare on st anger was way too over emphasized

[@UndeadSpaceMonkey1]

Awesome suprise seeing this in my subscriptons today. Great part 2 guys Does Chris have any videos online that I could watch?

[@xanderrooster]

If Chris's hair was longer, he would look like Dimebag

[@meanmetalmike666]

Phil Rudd drum gear of AC/DC would be neat

[@mattlovesdrums25]

Chris, I had the same viewing experience of 72 Seasons as you 😂 it was torture sitting through them explaining every song before they played it. to this day, it’s still the only Metallica album I feel has pacing issues and it seems like they were trying to break things up with those interviews haha

[@flashingarrows]

The praying mantis is trying to get over the top rope, but the hornet keeps pulling on his yrunks

[@justhadrums]

I don't know if the wires were actually off, you can kinda hear snare sound. It's that crazy ring that's so bizarre. I have that drum and can't make it ring like that no matter what

[@Assimilator702]

The wires are VERY loose but they are on.

[@JackNiles]

Fun stuff

[@badwolfsat5]

42:00 I think they had that kit setup for the kids to play on. I suspect the Sabian hats were a Bob Rock thing. They came and went when he did.

[@chriscromelin413]

I just ordered a "Live. Laugh. Lars" Sticker! Lol

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thanks brother! Got your order, I’ll ship it out asap!

[@hexedriffsstudio]

As a music producer and mixer, I can 100% tell you that for 72 Seasons it is atleast 95% programmed drums. Lars probably said what he'd like the producer/mixer to program for him, as if he was drumming the parts BUT, the drums for 72 Seasons are mostly programmed. No problem with that at all. The vast majority of bands these days do that & rely on laptops (which is tragic*), So atleast Metallica arent doing that & Lars can still pull off live what he got them to program for him, for the most part, ya know. Just saying though. It was probably done with programmed drums for quick/ease considering it was written/recorded during the pandemic, ya know. Just makes sense to do it. THAT would then also explain why this time we've suddenly not got a 'Making of...' documentary, Since 1990. There were definitely cameras filming, We got pics from HQ during the pandemic BUT no footage. 'Too proud' to admit its not him i guess or something. It's a mix of many Superior Drummer 3 drum packs, blended to make their own unique drum sound. MAYBE a actual snare hit sample for a 'realistic' snare sound just programmed with different velocity hits to make it sound more 'real'. But anyways. There you go! :-)

[@xxgil2]

I heard that the Ludwig snare was purchased by Bob rock for himself and Lars tried it and stuck with the sound. I hated it at first but I see what he was trying to do. If you think about it, people are still talking about it so that’s what you want as a celebrity. For the last few studio albums Lars has said he has laid off obsessing about his studio drums and letting his producer handle it. A sad mistake in my opinion.

[@LeoNasstrom]

One thing that seems like a new thing for the recording of "Hardwired" is the use of clear batter drum heads on the toms. Also the 15" Sabian HH hihat was used. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXfOiaeViadgh6Msi=_tcNXL3VzZ25-Ymu

[@JAEDDRUMMER]

of course it was with the snares off, who ever thought that it wasn't that way? yeah, they woulda eq'd the shit out of it to enhance that ring, but I can't believe any drummer hearing that snare sound "just didn't click" that it was a normal snare with simply the snares off? weird, but otherwise enjoying these episodes...,

[@Ollie_King]

Lars used Sabian hi hats and not the Zildjian Zs for Hardwired recording, loads of footage on the 'Making of Hardwired' videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXfOiaeViadgh6M

[@therandomrollercoasterride8751]

Can you deliver to the uk

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Yep - no problem. Just put your exact address in when you order!

[@therandomrollercoasterride8751]

@@DrumHistoryPodcast Awesome thanks man and I love your videos

[@DrumHistoryPodcast]

Thank you very much!!

[@chriscromelin413]

You guys didn't mention the album they did with Lou Reed. "Lulu" LOL Honestly, I view it as a Lou Reed album, and Metallica just happened to be his backing band. If you view it as a Metallica album, you'll have a bad time. LOL

[@vincechassey]

snare aren't off on St-Anger ,just a trick with compressors and no SN bottom mic .I doubt It's vistalite because It's really dry ,not much ring ....

[@terrytk9398]

Interesting show even if Metallica isn’t your thing.

[@chriscromelin413]

72 Seasons is meh. I think Hardwired was a great album! Death Magnetic had it's moments.

[@Brass257venison]

Lars gonna sue 😂😂 but I'd like to see a vid on some clive burr or nicko mcbrain

[@drummerdan95]

Just to support Chris' theory about the vistalite being the main snare on St. Anger, here's a quote from an interview with Bob Rock a couple years back; "I had bought a Plexi Ludwig snare because I wanted to try it, and he put it on the drum kit, and he said, ‘That’s the sound.’" I'm assuming he just misspoke calling it a plexi[glass] snare, that has to be what he was referring to. Pretty much confirms that as fact in my mind.

[@jarrodmccallum6169]

I’ve noticed in the nothing else matters video clip you can clearly see that the biggest Tom is mounted by the gretsch mounting system. It’s clear as day. Not mounted as a floor Tom mounted off the floor Tom mounts as they’ve described in the videos that have been posted since. I’m very sure this is correct

[@TheKranog]

That's a RIMS mounting system on the toms there and a Pearl tom holder. It's not a Pearl Optimount system.

[@m1kke]

58:12 is probably just coffee filters with duct tape on them. Old trick to prevent mic bleed.

[@TonyL-lv2di]

The sessions at the military base there are two silver sparkle snare drums. One is a Tama(James behind the kit pic). The second is what looks to be a 6.5x14 Ayotte snare (Lars behind the kit)

[@Groovedump]

Cool I thought I was the only one that saw the Ayotte lugs on that snare. 😄

[@Groovedump]

I don’t know that the Ayotte is sparkle though? I think it’s a Kepplinger heavy steel snare?

[@Camcodrummer]

Definitely a Ayotte Keplinger. Looks like a stainless steel..

[@flashingarrows]

Would love to see an episode on Joey Kramer kits, now that Aerosmith is done,

[@KeyFobRob]

Excellent chat. Thanks for driving some fantastic conversation

[@goddamnzordan]

they were going for that Nu Metal snare sound, that OCDP 40 ply 4 vents snare drum, that John Otto sound... even he looked like nu metal dude during that time with his beard and bleached hair. But they choose one sample and use it like a beat would use it, programmed it during entire album, they copied and pasted entire of that album and that was creative choice. Hey we still talk about it 21 years later. He did something though? I love it, it's raw as fuck, definitely mirrors weird time they were in.

[@matthewpaluch777]

Tama LU14655BB - Uber limited. The original version had a scorched badge as well. The only Signature model w/ZINC diecast hoops!

[@christopherhambleton9701]

He might have used the scorched earth drum on the first S&M gig. Not 100% sure would appreciate any feedback 👍

[@christopherhambleton9701]

Awesome guys. Really enjoyed all of these videos. Thank you for making them.

[@nickmandleberg]

@21:00 you say a Ludwig Black Beauty was used on the black album but it was the famous "Terminator" Tama Bell Brass snare.

[@justhadrums]

There is a pic from the last episode where the wmp old looking snare is on the kit he's playing. I had said it looked like an old leedy or radio king. It'a a blurry pic from above view.

[@alessandrogambino420]

This video is funny. To honestly think that Lars' sound is worthy of a 1 hour video is hillarious. Lars has no sound. His sound is Tama drums with Remo heads, period. His absolutely disgusting St. Anger snare proves that he knows NOTHING about how to tune a drum.