The One Band Lars Ulrich Said Worked on All Levels: "They're Really Inspiring to Me"
(Credits: Far Out / YouTube Still)
Thu 12 February 2026 14:00, UK
From the moment Lars Ulrich started playing music, he lived and breathed metal. While he's known for trying and failing to recapture Metallica's prime, his passion for music hasn't faded. He's always been a music fan first and foremost, but that doesn't mean he's only into heavy metal.
Ulrich was into Deep Purple before heavy metal had a name, and when he moved to the US, he was all about the new wave of British heavy metal. He loved the rush music gave him, but he had a refined taste, too.
Thanks to Cliff Burton, Metallica explored different directions. While Burton was known for complex arrangements, he also loved Kate Bush, REM, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. This mixed blessing led Metallica to change things up in the 1990s, but it wasn't always well-received.
Ulrich was more interested in U2's sound on Achtung Baby than rehashing the same thing. He admired their reinvention and big ideas, saying, "They're inspiring to me. I love their music, their reinvention, and their big and small thinking."
This ambition to try something new is why we're still talking about Metallica and U2 today. While Metallica may not have the same bite as before, they're focused on what their music will sound like in the long term. Ulrich's ambition isn't a bad thing, and it's better to try something new than give everyone another version of 'Master of Puppets.'
So, while Lars Ulrich might drive some people up the wall, his ambition is what keeps Metallica and U2 relevant. It's a fine line, but it's a line worth walking.
