Let me paint you a picture, it’s a typical day in the Metallica HQ, and Lars Ulrich is sitting in his office, surrounded by gold and platinum records, thinking about the band’s place in the world of rock and metal. As he’s staring at all the accolades on the wall, he starts to wonder: “Who could be considered our peer in this game?” He thinks about all the bands that have come and gone, all the ones that have tried to dethrone them, and all the ones that have tried to emulate their success.
It’s a tough decision, but then it hits him like a ton of bricks. There’s only one band that he truly believes can stand shoulder to shoulder with Metallica, and that’s…. well, that’s a secret. But trust me, it’s a band that’s just as iconic, just as influential, and just as badass as Metallica. And that, my friends, is the true measure of greatness. When even the most successful band in the world can only think of you as their only contemporary peer, you know you’ve made it to the top of the mountain.
In 1995, Lars Ulrich had to reveal his answer to this difficult question when he sat down for an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. During the conversation, he was asked about Metallica’s peers. In his answer, he mentioned bands that he respected and admired, such as AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, and Motörhead. These bands have been around for decades and have left a lasting impact on the music industry, and Lars made it clear that he considers them peers of Metallica. However, when asked about contemporaries, Ulrich had a different answer.
When it came to revealing Metallica’s only contemporary peer, the drummer said, “The only contemporary band I think of as a peer is Alice In Chains.” He also noted that Alice In Chains has a different approach to music than Metallica. “They sit on a pedestal for me, pretty much above everybody else. They’re like a ’90s Black Sabbath. There’s something about the riffs, the looseness. It’s not boxed in; it’s not square.”
The Metallica drummer continued, “Sometimes, when I listen to some of our earlier stuff, I get this vision in my mind of a square. Alice in Chains’ sound has a lot of round edges to it.” It is clear that Lars had a deep appreciation for the band and considered them as peers to Metallica.
Ulrich’s choice might come as a surprise to some fans since the two bands have different sounds and styles. But his admiration for Alice In Chains is a testament to his ability to recognize great music and appreciate the unique qualities that make a band stand out. His comments also serve to highlight how different bands can be considered peers, even if they are not playing the same type of music.
It’s a shame that a few years after Lars Ulrich’s statements about Alice In Chains, the band lost their lead singer Layne Staley. However, AIC’s legacy has survived through their music, and Staley’s unique vocal style will always be remembered and inspire upcoming musicians. His unfortunate and unexpected passing still serves as a reminder that the rock scene can be unpredictable and fragile, but it also makes Ulrich’s words even more powerful, showing the enduring impact of music on our lives. I will leave you with a rare performance of Metallica frontman James Hetfield joining Alice In Chains on stage. Enjoy.
