LATEST UPDATES: METALLICA’s LARS ULRICH Believes Hard Rock Resides Once Again in the Subculture

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Metallica’s drummer Lars Ulrich shared his thoughts on the current status of hard rock in the mainstream. When asked if he perceives a better understanding of heavy music in the mainstream compared to 1989, considering Metallica’s consistent chart-topping records, Ulrich provided an insightful response.

Expressing a candid viewpoint, Ulrich stated, “I don’t know if I have as much awareness of what’s happening around me as I did 20, 30 years ago, and I’m not sure if I’m as interested in being a significant part of that conversation as I once was. However, it does seem like what we’re doing in hard rock, in general, resonates with a lot of people. But concerning the zeitgeist and overall mainstream culture, it doesn’t feel like we’re as prominently featured in the mainstream conversation as in the past.”

Despite having one of the most successful summers in their 42-year journey, with record-breаking ticket sales in Europe and America, Ulrich acknowledged the shift in hard rock’s status. “It feels like hard rock is more of a subculture and less mainstream than it’s been,” he added, reflecting on the current landscape compared to the MTV and AOR radio-dominated Eighties.

This acknowledgment holds significant weight, considering Metallica’s stature as one of the most successful and influential heavy metal bands, recently surpassing Taylor Swift’s attendance record at a Californian stadium. It also aligns with a broader trend in the music industry, where hard rock and heavy metal have faced increasing marginalization.

Several factors contribute to this decline, with the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music playing a pivotal role. These platforms have facilitated easier access to a diverse range of music, leading to a fragmentation of the music market, where various genres cater to distinct niches of listeners.

Ultimately, whether hard rock and heavy metal maintain a mainstream status becomes somewhat irrelevant. These genres boast a rich and storied history, consistently producing some of the most innovative and tҺrilling music in the industry.