This was never up for debate within the Metallica camp, but it's something we constantly feel the need to point out to people. Would the project have been better off being labelled 'Lou Reed feat. Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett & Trujillo'? Of course, as that would do away with the associations brought about by using the band name. However, when what is on offer is a post-expressionist drama re-appropriated into a concept album, the lyrics of which were penned by Lou Reed who asked for improvised instrumentation underneath.....it's hardly as well thought out as Master of Puppets is it? Nor should it be thought of as such.
15. We All Love A James Hetfield "YEAH-HEA!"
Who doesn't adore James Hetfield? To quote Scuzz's loveable-motormouth Beez, "You could throw James Hetfield a guitar now, say 'just make up a riff', and it'd be better than most bands could write in ten years". It's hard to put it better than that, but love for Papa Het is more than just being able to pen incredible memorable riffs that just make you want to grab your guitar (plastic or otherwise) and play along. It's his worldview of overwhelming positivity that's come with a youth spent fostering the name 'Alcoholica', his sense of humour that gave us that laugh, and an incredibly commanding stage presence that is seldom remotely matched by any other frontman who isn't called Corey Todd Taylor.
