Robert Trujillo defined why the $1 million signing-on cost made to him by Metallica wasn’t excessive in his priorities when he joined the band in 2003.
The second is captured within the band’s Some Type of Monster documentary after they spent months attempting to recruit a alternative for Jason Newsted and Trujillo had auditioned throughout that interval.
His thoughts was centered on having to be taught a catalog of music as quick as doable. However first, he needed to inform Ozzy Osbourne he wanted to stop the Black Sabbath icon’s band after seven years.
READ MORE: Metallica Wished Rob Trujillo’s Million-Greenback Deal Out of Film
“Nicely, that was bizarre and that was surreal,” Trujillo advised The Surfer’s Journal of the day he joined Metallica. “Everyone says, ‘Wow, man.’ After taxes, it’s a little bit completely different than 1,000,000 {dollars}. I suppose I bought so consumed with the workload … in my head, I’m like, ‘It’s time to get to work – I’ve bought this mountain of catalog to be taught.’
“After which there was this new album, St. Anger, that they hadn’t even performed stay but. … I simply noticed it as like, ‘I’ve bought quite a lot of work forward of me. … I’m not gonna take into consideration the cash. I’m not gonna have a good time what’s happening as a result of I’ve bought work to do.’”
You may hearken to the interview under.
Trujillo mentioned he obtained a name from Osbourne a couple of days earlier than that, which was uncommon. “Ozzy by no means known as me,” he famous. “You’d all the time hear from somebody from the administration crew or possibly Sharon would possibly name.
“And I get this name from him – ‘Hey, Rob … let’s go on the highway, man. I’m prepared.’ … I hadn’t heard from Metallica [and] I wasn’t working.” Then issues modified once more: “I get a name from Lars [Ulrich], saying, ‘Hey, we would like you to come back up right here and we wish to speak to you.’ So I’m like, ‘OK, they’re not telling me I bought the gig.’ … They’re the type of guys that will have you ever fly up there to let you know you didn’t get the gig. Like, ‘We simply needed to let you know in individual.’”
On arriving at Metallica’s HQ, Trujillo obtained the reverse message. And whereas his ideas turned to his new duties, he was additionally serious about Osbourne.
Lars Ulrich’s Ultimatum to Robert Trujillo
“I don’t even know why I mentioned this … I used to be all the time attempting to be loyal to Ozzy and Sharon … I used to be, like, ‘Nicely, I don’t suppose I can do these dates. However once I end my dedication with Ozzy I’ll bounce on board.’ And I bear in mind Lars goes, ‘We respect your loyalty. It’s very honorable. However this prepare is leaving … you’ve gotta bounce on board and bounce on with us.’”
Accepting the state of affairs, Trujillo instantly organized to go to the Osbournes. “I flew house that evening, and I really went to Sharon and Ozzy’s home and met with Sharon and mentioned, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna be a part of Metallica.’ … It was simply heavy … it’s laborious while you’re shedding a crew member. … So it was troublesome – however I additionally felt that I wanted to be there in individual to inform him and inform her.”
He mentioned there was no negativity. “Often when that occurred up to now, it might get fairly ugly with anyone. I imply, you’re leaving a crew, and it’s not good. Like I mentioned, my life modified. Swiftly I used to be part of a brand new household, and I used to be dwelling in a brand new space and it was only a completely different existence.”
Metallica Lineup Modifications: A Full Information
They grew to become probably the most profitable heavy steel band in historical past, however not with out the occasional personnel shift.
Gallery Credit score: Ed Rivadavia
