Lars Ulrich Blasts Military For Blasting Metallica At Prisoners

MTV.com ^ | 06/11/03 | Jon Wiederhorn

[Pikamax]

06.11.2003 6:33 PM EDT

Metallica's Lars Ulrich Photo: John Shearer

Metallica are particularly unhappy about certain actions the U.S. military has taken in Iraq.

Not the ones that resulted in the collapse of Saddam Hussein's empire — the ones in which the band's music was played to extract information from terrified Iraqi prisoners who'd never been exposed to heavy metal.

Speaking to the press in Europe, drummer Lars Ulrich told the World Entertainment News Network that he strongly objects to the use of "Enter Sandman" as a device of coercion. "I feel horrible about this," he said. "No one in Iraq has ever done anything to hurt me, and I don't understand why we have to be implicated in that bullsh--."

Ulrich added that if the Army is intent on using loud music to break Saddam's supporters, they should find something really grating on the ears. "What about firing up some Venom or some of those Norwegian death metal bands?" he proposed. "The problem with that is then it wouldn't be a soundbite. Sometimes Metallica become the token heavy metal band that you can talk about."

Despite his unhappiness, Ulrich said there's nothing he can do about the current situation. "What am I supposed to do about it," he asked, "get George Bush on the phone and tell him to get his generals to play some Venom?"

The band's label had no comment.

—Jon Wiederhorn

[tallhappy]

The thing about Metalica is that they are pathetic boring crappy music.

[MEG33]

LOL

[rattrap]

they must've played the black album or something after it. otherwise the iraqis would've thrown up the goat horns and started headbanging.

Breaking News:Lars is a jacka$$

[annyokie]

That's for sure.

[Sam's Army]

"Sometimes Metallica become the token heavy metal band that you can talk about."

Fine. Then keep your whiny ass out from in front of the camera and maybe the public will pick up on some other heavy metal band.

[eureka!]

Meanwhile, Barney, through a spokespuppet, issued the following sing song:

"I love W

W loves me

I support or troops

Most happily

Playing my songs

To find WMD

Won't Metallica

Please join with me?"

[Wolfie]

Ol' Lars has quite the knack for shooting himself in the foot.

[sirshackleton]

Ulrich added that if the Army is intent on using loud music to break Saddam's supporters, they should find something really grating on the ears.

I think there's stuff in the Geneva convention rules about playing Barbra Streisand and inhumane treatment towards prisoners....

[ericthecurdog]

they must've played the black album or something after it. otherwise the iraqis would've thrown up the goat horns and started headbanging.

A-f'ing-men. Must have been "post prom ballad" Metallica. Hell, that just about broke ME back in '92 when it came out.

[Constitution Day]

Metallica ping at ya...

[pepsionice]

Just think about what this says for the band....that the music drives people insane...to give up resistance. Makes one wonder what kinda people show up for the concerts.

[Normal4me]

How funny is it that they take their "Art" and use it as a psy-ops tool against prisoners. Bwhahahaha

[Bikers4Bush]

For the love of god shut the hell up lars you self absorbed ass.

[cinFLA]

They are probably just ticked they aren't getting any royalties.

[Drew68]

"What about firing up some Venom or some of those Norwegian death metal bands?"

He does have a point...

[AngryJawa]

Maybe the military should tell Lars that they not only use the song to aid in info retreival but they also DOWNLOADED it from Napster. It would be fun to watch his head explode.

[rattrap]

it came out on my birthday...

worst.birthday.ever.

[Sam's Army]

Aiming to be the next Dixie Chick no doubt.....

[NittanyLion]

"What am I supposed to do about it," he asked, "get George Bush on the phone and tell him to get his generals to play some Venom?"

LOL.