"When I joined Metallica, I'd never sung in my whole life, so the fact that I can now support a backup vocal is pretty cool." That's what Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo says of his debut Metallica backing vocal turn on "You Must Burn," a song on the band's 72 Seasons.
Indeed, it's the first time the Metallica bass player of 20 years has contributed vocals on a Metallica studio recording, as the bassist revealed in an extensive new interview on Metallica's "So What!" blog.
"For the first time in my life, I get to sing on a Metallica record and support [lead singer and guitarist] James [Hetfield]," Trujillo explains. "I'm very proud of that. So we're getting better. We're learning and still growing in this band. … The respect level is much higher."
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Recalling the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trujillo explained how Metallica found early inspiration for the album around the time of 2020's …And Justice for All redux "Blackened 2020."
"[Metallica drummer] Lars [Ulrich] and I had a conversation after we had done [it]," the bassist says. "Just to be clear, James sparked the whole thing when he sent over 'Blackened 2020' for us all to throw down."
Trujillo continues, "After that, Lars kind of trusted that I would try to come up with an acoustic version of 'The Day That Never Comes.' I don't know if I disappointed him or if I didn't come through. But, basically, that day never came because I threw together an original piece that had nothing to do with [the] acoustic version."
Some Inspiration Behind 72 Seasons
The bassist adds, "That original piece is not on the album, so don't look for it. … I don't think [it] was ever intended to be on the album. More than anything, it was intended to make a point, which was, Fuck it, let's be creative, let's concentrate on new ideas, new music, a new record."
Did that flourish of creativity lead to Trujillo entering the vocal booth for the first time with Metallica?
"I was surprised when I got the call from [Metallica producer] Greg [Fidelman]," he says, "because I was coming up to play a little bass, but then he said, 'I'm going to have you sing on a couple [of] things, too. And I was, like, 'Really?' I got a little nervous."
Trujillo reveals, " At the same time, I was very motivated. Fortunately for me, the part really does suit my comfort zone. … It sits and slots in really well with the moment and bass breakdown. So it's cool that it's this breakdown that James and I were able to jam on and create, and then I get to sing on it too."
Trujillo Has Sang With Metallica Before
Though it is his first publicly heard recorded vocal part with Metallica once issued, Trujillo has sang live with the band before, including alongside Hetfield on "Spit Out the Bone." In 2018, Trujillo sang on a live Celtic Frost tribute cover accompanied by Metallica's Kirk Hammett as part of the pair's in-concert "doodles."
The bassist also cut vocals in the studio with Metallica before, but those didn't make the final mix.
Metallica "M72" 2023 Tour Dates
Metallica take off on their "M72 World Tour" beginning next month. See the tour dates below. Get Metallica concert tickets here. 72 Seasons comes out on April 14. Pre-order it here. The album is preceded by songs such as "Lux Æterna," "Screaming Suicide" and "If Darkness Had a Son." Watch the music videos for those songs down toward the bottom of this post.
April 27 – Amsterdam NL @ Cruijff Arena
April 29 – Amsterdam NL @ Cruijff Arena
May 17 – Paris FR @ Stade de France
May 19 – Paris FR @ Stade de France
May 26 – Hamburg DE @ Volksparkstadion
May 28 – Hamburg DE @ Volksparkstadion
June 16 – Gothenburg SE @ Ullevi Stadium
June 18 – Gothenburg SE @ Ullevi Stadium
Aug. 4 – East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium
Aug. 6 – East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium
Aug. 11 – Montreal, Quebec @ Stade Olympique
Aug. 13 – Montreal, Quebec @ Stade Olympique
Aug. 18 – Arlington, Texas @ AT&T Stadium
Aug. 20 – Arlington, Texas @ AT&T Stadium
Aug. 25 – Inglewood, Calif. @ SoFi Stadium
Aug. 27 – Inglewood, Calif. @ SoFi Stadium
Sept. 1 – Glendale, Ariz. @ State Farm Stadium
Sept. 3 – Glendale, Ariz. @ State Farm Stadium
Nov. 3 – St. Louis, Mo. @ The Dome
Nov. 5 – St. Louis, Mo. @ The Dome
Nov. 10 – Detroit, Mich. @ Ford Field
Nov. 12 – Detroit, Mich. @ Ford Field
May 24, 2024 – Munich DE @ Olympiastadion
May 26, 2024 – Munich DE @ Olympiastadion
June 7, 2024 – Helsinki FI @ Olympic Stadium
June 9, 2024 – Helsinki FI @ Olympic Stadium
June 14, 2024 – Copenhagen DK @ Parken Stadium
June 16, 2024 – Copenhagen DK @ Parken Stadium
July 5, 2024 – Warsaw PL @ PGE Narodowy
July 7, 2024 – Warsaw PL @ PGE Narodowy
July 12, 2024 – Madrid ES @ Estadio Cívitas
July 14, 2024 – Madrid ES @ Estadio Cívitas
Aug. 2, 2024 – Foxborough, Mass. @ Gillette Stadium
Aug. 4, 2024 – Foxborough, Mass. @ Gillette Stadium
Aug. 9, 2024 – Chicago, Ill. @ Soldier Field
Aug. 11, 2024 – Chicago, Ill. @ Soldier Field
Aug. 16, 2024 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ US Bank Stadium
Aug. 18, 2024 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ US Bank Stadium
Aug. 23, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Commonwealth
Aug. 25, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta @ Commonwealth
Aug. 30, 2024 – Seattle, Wash. @ Lumen Field
Sept. 1, 2024 – Seattle, Wash. @ Lumen Field
Sept. 20, 2024 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
Sept. 22, 2024 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
Sept. 27, 2024 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
Sept. 29, 2024 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol
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Metallica, "Lux Æterna" (Music Video)
Metallica, "Screaming Suicide" (Music Video)
Metallica, "If Darkness Had a Son" (Music Video)
