Rob Trujillo reflected on the contrasting worlds of playing bass for Metallica and his supergroup Infectious Grooves in a recent chat with Wall of Sound.
The musician highlighted the distinct differences in playing bass between the two bands. While both groups fall under the metal genre, their musical styles demand unique approaches and techniques from the bassist. Trujillo explained:
“Metallica is certainly challenging, and there’s a physical thing that goes with that. And with the bass playing in Infectious Grooves, I feel like I’m using different muscles, different techniques.”
Reconnecting With Musical Roots
Returning to work with his former Suicidal Tendencies bandmate Mike Muir in Infectious Grooves has been both a challenge and a rewarding experience for Trujillo. The bassist finds joy in revisiting the playing style that is deeply rooted in his musical journey, as he stated:
“The style is a bit different, the feel. It’s a challenge in a lot of ways, but [it] kind of opens my eyes to being a musician in what, ‘Wow, I used to do this!’ It’s fun to reconnect, but it is a challenge.”
To adapt to the aggressive and distinctive style of Infectious Grooves, Rob has developed a routine of practicing specific types of scales before going to bed, aiming to build the stamina required for their energetic performances.
A New Rhythm Connection
The addition of Jay Weinberg as the drummer for Infectious Grooves has injected new energy into the band. Weinberg, known for his work with Slipknot, expressed his excitement about collaborating with Trujillo in a new chat with Spotlight Report. The rocker noted:
“We obviously have different backgrounds, but to have a love for all styles of music and have that feed into the high energy, heavy, you know, the trashy, the punk, the, you know, every everything, the funk, even, you know, it’s very it’s very cool to get into a room with people where you don’t have to talk. … So, yeah, locking in to Robert on bass is like an absolute dream, as a drummer, that’s just like it’s, it’s so much fun and feels like driving a Ferrari or something.”
With new music on the horizon and a lineup that includes Trujillo, Muir, Weinberg, Dean Pleasants, and Dave Kushner, Infectious Grooves is preparing for an exciting return to the stage. The band has announced performances in the U.S. and Australia, marking their first live shows since 2019.
Watch Trujillo’s full interview below.
