Metallica, the famous rock band, has had a wild ride full of ups and downs. Most groups would have given up with all the trouble they’ve faced, but Metallica kept going. One time, things got so crazy that James Hetfield, the singer, got really mad and punched Lars Ulrich, the drummer, during a concert.
Back then, Metallica wasn’t the huge band they are now. They were just starting out, still figuring things out. Luckily, this fight happened backstage, away from the fans’ eyes. If it had been in front of everyone, it could have been a disaster for them. Even so, people heard about it, and it made Metallica seem like tough, rebellious rockers, which actually helped their image.
This all went down at one of their very first shows at a place called The Troubadour in Los Angeles. They’d only been a band for a few months, but the crowd loved them so much that they cheered for more songs—an encore! This was new for Metallica, and they weren’t sure what to play next.
Years later, Lars told the story on The Howard Stern Show while James stood next to him, laughing a little about how wild he used to be. Lars said, “We were playing at The Troubadour, and it was the first time fans asked us to come back and play more. We were standing offstage, trying to pick a song, but we couldn’t agree. I suggested one that started with drums, and well, James didn’t like that.”
Lars explained that after they finished playing, James gave him a punch in the stomach. “It wasn’t too bad,” Lars said with a smile. “I stayed standing! And honestly, James helped me out a lot more after that. I used to talk too much and say silly things to the wrong people, especially when we were having fun with friends. James was like my big brother, stepping in to save me when I got into trouble.”
Even though James got mad and punched Lars that night, Lars isn’t upset about it. He thinks he kind of deserved it! Plus, he says James protected him way more times than he ever got mad at him. Looking back, they both laugh about it now, like it’s a funny memory from their early days. It’s just one of the many stories that show how Metallica stuck together through all the chaos and became the huge band they are today.
