The Surprising Revelation: Brian Tatler’s Astonishment at Lars Ulrich’s Drumming Skills
In the annals of Metallica lore, one of the most intriguing tales revolves around Lars Ulrich’s teenage encounters with his rock idols. From intimate sessions with Lemmy Kilmister, Phil Taylor, and Eddie Clark crafting new Motorhead tunes to witnessing the early days of Saxon’s rise, young Ulrich’s musical journey was shaped not just by records but by personal interactions.
Among the most remarkable anecdotes is Ulrich’s pilgrimage to the UK to see Diamond Head, culminating in an unexpecteԀ living arrangement with the band for several weeks.
During a recent conversation on Metallica’s official podcast, The Metallica Report, Diamond Head’s Brian Tatler shared his memories of meeting the young Ulrich.
Tatler recounts Ulrich’s initial introduction to Diamond Head’s music through a mail-order purchаse of their album “Lightning to the Nations.” The band, still unsigned at the time, was astonished to find an enthusiastic fan in Ulrich, thousands of miles away in the United States.
Ulrich’s passion for their music was evident when he attended one of their London shows at the Woolwich Odeon at the tender age of 17. Impressed by his dedication, Diamond Head welcomed him warmly, leading to Ulrich crashing at Tatler’s place for a week before moving to frontman Sean Harris’s home for a more extended stay.
Tatler recalls Ulrich’s late-night fridge raids and his affinity for repeatedly listening to Diamond Head’s “It’s Electric” with headphones in the wee hours.
However, the most surprising revelation for Tatler came when Ulrich, upon returning to California, disclosed that he had formed a band called Metallica. Despite staying in touch with Ulrich and receiving updates on the band’s progress, Tatler initially didn’t grasp the significance of Metallica’s emergence.
To Tatler’s disbelief, it wasn’t until Metallica covered Diamond Head’s “Am I Evil?” and sent him a copy of the single that he began to understand the magnitude of Ulrich’s endeavors. Despite their initial underestimation, Diamond Head soon realized the seismic impact Metallica would have on the metal scene.
In hindsight, Tatler reflects on his initial skepticism, admitting he had no inkling that Metallica would become one of the biggest metal bands of all time.
Ulrich’s journey from a passionate fan crashing on Tatler’s floor to a global metal icon remаins a testament to the unpredictable twists of fate and the enduring power of musical passion.