Hey it's mr. scary and -- hang in backstage at the TD Banknorth Garden welcome to WA AF dot com and in a few minutes we're gonna sit down -- James Hatfield from Metallica. Check displays -- this is Metallica's practice rumor warm up room before the show. So take a look. It's a pretty fancy gear around here. It's past. It's. It's. It. So we are hanging out backstage at TD Banknorth Garden with a yawning James Hatfield. -- world did you just like us. A ticket app on the way here did you did you get caught this now. Now -- Tibet or we had the lead to different airport so it was about a. Power drive. -- you like you live in Manchester. You know even now you were asleep. We landed. And -- that not close ones yeah. Well Mattel is the only -- I know that would have the balls to schedule a show in the middle of the worst season to have a show in New England they -- got to play. -- -- We challenge or France about whether -- well the first thing I gotta do is congratulate you on getting inducted into the rock and roll Hall of Fame just got announced you must be really excited. It is quite an honor and I didn't know how would. You know you can get these the you'd think ahead a little -- like how we're gonna fuel for that -- -- We just did it we we we get to play for play except that the rock hall of fame and and any unity here bands like. In the Sex Pistols given the biggest fuel and all that even I didn't wanna get another Hall of Fame. It's kinda weird it's like you know what yeah okay it seems a bit corporate these guys is meted out you know but ruled parts put this list together about the they think about it's like you know what there's a lot of a lot of good company in there. And if this is the rock and roll hall of fame and the Colombian it you know I. I find it a great honor and especially the fact that word. Were alive to see it first of all or not it did they -- it in. And we're still somewhat relevant to go in on top of the dads it's it's awesome. And have you. Are you involved at all with the process of who gets to take part in your induction and do you get to choose what -- -- to -- -- and play your songs. No I don't think so I think there's. I think I think they choose whom. Induces him and -- That I've been induced. In ducts you. At the lyrics. In -- you I think -- shoes but if you if you find them or if an horrific I think we can. We can say so. So we're not gonna see like Christina Aguilera there's music industry had something. -- well that would it that would not be yeah that would be bad for anyone really. I have to ask you just because there have been a few members of Metallica that are no longer in the current lineup. Have you at all obviously you have but what are what are the plans as far as include cliff in the ceremony and then obviously Jason instead as well. Yes absolutely. They've been a part of this recording band and I guess really what it is as 25 years after your first album. That's what they recognize you so whoever's playing on Metallica album should be there simple as that. It when it comes to. The band in the history of the band you guys have gone through basically everything a band can go through. And I wanted to ask you especially after the last album cycle with saint anger. You guys really exposed yourself in a lot of different ways with. With the movie and you really tried a lot of different things musically with saint anger that some people love some people were very critical of the band. Now that you're in a different place with death magnetic do you look back at any -- -- which we have. -- -- Can't I can't play that you know. -- wanna change the past game. -- Augusta where we are right now you know we didn't go through all that struggle that time or. You know we didn't get a little lost. Possibly. On saint anger. We wouldn't -- got back to of the essence on this record. All these things happen for a reason and I think the main thing for us in that we do notice and are grateful for the passion around Metallica and like you said. Some people either love it or hate it it's like there's no it's okay you know. People may have an opinion you have an opinion and that that. That to meet. Sister to a certain right that were were stirring up emotions people. This is a big as big a big year for rock and roll in general and I've been calling it the trifecta. That if you ask me at this point last year. If I expected Metallica AC DC and Guns 'N Roses to all come out with an album in 2008 I would've told you. You would lose every dollar in a bet if you went to Vegas. But should be. In that company and have these three huge core. Rock bands come out and to have the albums all be really good. Well good thank you. I I love the fact that rock. Is alive and well coming back not just. And rock but heavy rock. There's a lot of you know thrash bands underground stuff that is just it's it's bubbling over the top and a lot of a lot of people are taking notice of that so there's a big rise in in heavy music again we're. We're glad to be. One of the I guess. Bands in the forefront kick in the door down Indians. Well I just think it's cool that over the years especially you know with. With bands like AC/DC York any of you guys to a few years in between albums. And people miss that -- -- you see these young bands that come out that sound just like you guys. And hurt you guys to come out with -- it's damn good. But it's -- kind of -- good you know kind of look back at kids and be like nice try guys but the beer Metallica this is our sound yeah. Well. God bless competition you know. Competition is a great motivate her fears are great motivate her fears and you know that some young -- got to take the crown. It's great to have that feeling and it in it -- it takes you to another level you know having a band like machine head out here. There are unbelievable and they're great they deliver the goods every night they're great guys. -- players write great songs. And it gets a kick in -- well. You have to be good if you're gonna open from Metallica because your fans have been famous for. Almost killing whoever had the holes to go on the stage before you guys right well it it it takes a certain kind of certain kind of banners are -- person to accept that kind of loyalty you know what the band. You can't you can't really fight it you have to play into it or in a lot of these bands have found that you know it is soon as they say. Route the hugest Metallica fans ever then they've got the audience you know yet. You gotta become part of the family. I have to ask you where you went to mentally. In preparation for the recording sessions of death magnetic hot did you guys managed to it to go back to. Is the core that everybody was waiting for did you guys. You know specifically sit down with the producer was this just a meeting amongst the -- view hi how did you guys do that. Well we we got in. Mars mom's car and drove back to the old house we really are bullet bell unit did an odd statement on all. A c'mon. We we have we mentally when we said analyst Rick Rubin he says here's the mission. And it took a little while this thing is they -- this is this is like. Reliving the past this is so Metallica. You know were were on this to your -- we have to stay relevant by. Exploring and keep moving forward in trying new things you know. -- we go backwards. Just don't go backwards. Grab the essence from back. And that was the hunger that was a lot of the reasons why you're playing he need to -- people you need you know that the main thing was. Right a set list. Could you wanna get sucked in two injured outside or whatever it took. And and we can that we kind of got that because that once we wrote the first couple riffs and songs around that that it made sense to us. It we were pretty pretty fearful of repeating ourselves that -- -- of this -- artist. Kirk's you know repeat yourself that you've lost leaders. We we really took what essence. We needed from the past and obviously added where we are now.
