When you think of joining a world-renowned band, you might picture auditions, interviews, and perhaps jam sessions. But for Rob Trujillo, the journey had a few unique twists. Stopping by The Offspring’s studio, Trujillo discussed the peculiar initiation process he underwent with Lars Ulrich before becoming a part of Metallica. Trujillo recalled when Suicidal Tendencies toured with Metallica in 1993 and 1994, opening for them in both Europe and the States. As the bassist said, there was a particularly memorable night in Madrid: “The other thing that was weird is [Lars Ulrich] tested me. They always talk about hazing, and I’ve been asked that. So, my hazing [was] when Suicidal Tendencies toured with Metallica. We opened for them in Europe and in the States in 93 and 94, and there was a night in Madrid when I drank a bottle of Jager with Lars and James, and I basically drank three-quarters of it for sure. I was hallucinating. We had a flight the next day, and I always say, ‘Well, that was part of the hazing process.’ It happened back in 1993 or something.
” Fast forward to his audition with Metallica, Lars had another surprise in store: “And then, going back to my audition, we were leaving the parking lot, and Lars stopped me and went, ‘Hey, do you want to go get a drink?’ It was about 11 o’clock at night because basically, you would go to the studio and you’d hang out from 11:00 a.m. to 11 at night; you’re just a fly on the wall. It was really weird. So, then, all of a sudden, he’s like, ‘Let’s go get a drink,’ I said, ‘Okay,’ and I swear we drank until 5 in the morning. And I think that was him seeing how I could handle my booze at that time and that I didn’t go crazy or try to kill anybody.” Trujillo’s formal association with Metallica began on February 24, 2003, two years after the departure of Jason Newsted. Upon joining the band, he received an advance of one million dollars. While there are tales from the past, Metallica is still in the news today. Several additional singles, including “Lux terna,” “Screaming Suicide,” “If Darkness Had a Son,” and the album’s lead single, “72 Seasons,” were released in 2022 and 2023. ’72 Seasons,’ the group’s eleventh studio album, was released on April 14, 2023. Metallica is presently on their M72 tour, so fans who are eager to hear these new songs live can do so. On November 3, they will perform at the Dome At America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
