Robert Trujillo Joins Metallica

Robert Trujillo knew James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett from their time recording The Black Album in Los Angeles, circa 1990. He went on to tour in support of Metallica in 1993 as the bassist for Suicidal Tendencies.  When the call came in to audition for Metallica in late 2002, Robert was happy to fly in. Robert described working with the band on "Sad But True" in the audition: "There's the speed, the kind of the swagger of the song. I immediately felt connected to what they were doing in more of a live formula and a live format...Being in a band like Metallica, it requires a lot more than just being able to play the songs. You've got to get along with your people, and you've got to understand how to gauge the territory."​

James Hetfield added, "I was just thinking, 'No way he's going to join us. He's too amazing. He's too spectacular. The things that he's got going on - he's so connected, and he's so wanted and needed...' But when he did play...it was like, 'Okay, he fills us so much.'"​

IMAGES:​

James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo share a pre-show huddle on tour, 2004. Photo: Michael Agel. From the Collection of James Hetfield​

James Hetfield's laminate pass for Summer Sanitarium, Robert Trujillo's first tour with Metallica, 2003. From the Collection of James Hetfield​

Individual portraits of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, taken during one of Metallica's earliest photo shoots with Robert, 2003. From the Collection of James Hetfield. ​

Band portrait taken during one of Metallica's earliest photo shoots with Robert Trujillo, 2003. From the Collection of James Hetfield