Metallica ready for a really Big Day Out

By NATASHA HARRIS

They are the godfathers of heavy metal, still fit - just - into tight jeans and are friends of The Datsuns.

Metallica are back after a six-year absence to play at today's Big Day Out.

The four-member American band, formed in 1981, have sold more than 90 million albums, won six Grammy awards and been the inspiration for countless metal bands.

Drummer Lars Ulrich, a 40-year-old father of two, says the band decided to play at the festival after hearing how much fun other bands had performing in this part of the world.

Ulrich is keen to catch up with New Zealand band the Datsuns.

"I'm a huge fan of theirs. We have the same musical influences and inspirations - I love their record.

"We've had a lot of good times together while on tour ... I'd love to do anything with these guys, whether it be to buy them a beer or produce for them."

Since arriving in Auckland on Wednesday night, Ulrich said he had had time only to go for a run by the Viaduct Harbour.

It is the band's fourth visit. "There hasn't been a lot of experiences outside the hotel room but we've always had good times here ... People here are very emotionally into what we're doing."

Describing his band's sound as "quite heavy, aggressive and edgy", Ulrich said their latest album, St Anger, was a return to that sound after a few albums of "musical exploration".

Metallica play at 8.45 tonight on the blue stage at Ericsson Stadium, and fly to Australia at 8am tomorrow for the Australian leg of the three-week tour.

About 40,000 of the 45,000 tickets have been sold to the Big Day Out.

* nzherald.co.nz will feature updates throughout the day from the Big Day Out beginning at 12pm on Friday.