Justin Bieber Is ‘A Talented Kid,’ Says Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Again
Justin Bieber is a “talented kid,” says Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, in what is the second occasion he has praised and also offered an insightful take on the much criticized young star.
Tellingly, the UK’s Independent’s report on the drummer’s remarks notes he is “breaking with convention yet again to call pop brat Justin Bieber ‘talented,'” which nutshells the context the Canadian singer deals with.
Ulrich made his comments in a recent interview with Argentinian TV station TN, during which he was asked whether he was a fan of the “Baby” singer — who is a declared Metallica fan.
The 50-year-old rock veteran went on to say of Bieber:
“Obviously he doesn’t make it easy for himself and I can only imagine how difficult it must be to have to deal with everybody being on top of him 24 hours a day — I mean, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”
Last October, Ulrich and other Metallica members revealed they were fans of the then 19-year-old pop star after he covered their 1984 song “Fade to Black” backstage at one of his Believe tour concerts, while scatting and playing air guitar.
“Are we Beliebers? Yes,” frontman James Hetfield declared at the time.
Back then, Ulrich mused,
“Is it possible to have respect for him without being a Belieber?”
Answering his own question, he continued, “I think the kid’s really talented and obviously to go through what he’s going through at that early age must be a mindf**k.”
Elaborating, Lars added, “So the fact that he still goes out there and does it, I admire that and I think he’s super talented. So I guess I am kind of a Belieber.”
Proof positive, then, that you don’t have to be a screaming, hormonally-driven 13-year-old to appreciate the polarizing charms of Bieber.
Scroll to 4:36 minutes for Ulrich’s interview
Ulrich’s thoughtful view was echoed over the weekend by double Juno award winner Serena Ryder, who subtly rebuked the audience at the Winnipeg, Canada, music event for booing Bieber’s earlier Fan Choice Award win by praising him as she accepted her Songwriter of the Year Juno.
“Justin Bieber is an amazing musician and he deserved every bit of that award because he’s been working his a** off his entire life,” Ryder told the crowd.
“And we need to support how awesome he is. I think he’s great. I’m not just trying to kiss a** I think he’s great. He’s amazing,” she added.
Ulrich didn’t only talk up Bieber in his interview. The musician told TN that the band’s packed schedule has meant recording new music had been put on the back burner.
“We’ve got some good ideas,” Lars explained, adding, “Our biggest problem is not the ideas, our biggest problem is time. Metallica is busier than ever, it just seems like there’s more and more going on and the days get shorter and shorter.”
Then, more optimistically, “Hopefully we will be done writing this year. Next year we should record and hopefully have a new record out next year.”
Meanwhile, Bieber is also putting in the hours musically speaking and has been working with teen sensation, Austin Mahone, in Miami on a song he reportedly thinks is “perfect” for the 18-year-old.
The pair were photographed leaving Nobu restaurant in Miami Beach Thursday night after a birthday dinner celebration for the Young Money signee.
Recent Twitter postings from Bieber indicate he is focusing on music amid his ongoing legal woes.
I love music
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 3, 2014
Big things coming ?
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 3, 2014
Put your heart into everything you do
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 3, 2014
