“Lars has a really unorthodox way of playing. I think he’s a really creative drummer.”
Lars Ulrich’s rather unconventional drumming has been the subject of jokes and taunts over the years – even though it is an integral part of the sound that contributed to Metallica’s international success. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong sees things a little differently than the critics; he recently came out as a fan of the drummer and spoke positively to him – even if he occasionally makes mistakes during live performances.
“I really like the way Lars plays”
Green Day were recently guests at the “Howard Stern Show”, in which the frontman explained what impressed him so much about Ulrich’s style: “Lars has a really unorthodox way of playing. I think he’s a really creative drummer. I think the metal drummers in his genre, who were influenced by Metallica, studied a lot from the way other people play.”
He continues: “But I think the way he and James Hetfield play together, they’re just in lockstep. His drum fills are completely different than the way Lars plays. I really like the way Lars plays. He’s a great drummer.” Armstrong’s bandmate Tré Cool seems to share this enthusiasm. “And his energy is contagious. He’s like a heavy metal muppet,” he added.
Green Day on the “Howard Stern Show”:
The drummer takes it with humor
Lars Ulrich himself doesn’t let criticism negatively influence him – the 60-year-old sometimes even has fun with it. For example he answered the question in 2022, what would go through his mind while playing a solo with: “I should have taken lessons. I hope the sound guy turned it up loud enough to cover my incompetence. Every great drummer who dies is turning in his grave.”