METALLICA Fan Interviews LARS ULRICH On Milwaukee's 102.9 THE HOG; Video Available

A METALLICA fan by the name of Bob Johnson won the chance to go backstage and interview drummer Lars Ulrich before the band's January 12, 2009 concert at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The six-minute interview, which aired on Milwaukee's 102.9 The Hog radio station, can be viewed below.

METALLICA will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, it was announced at a press conference in New York on Wednesday (January 14). Joining the band as inductees are guitar legend JEFF BECK, RUN-DMC, BOBBY WOMACK, and LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS. THE STOOGES were once again left off the list, despite being nominated several times and enduring the death of guitarist Ron Asheton last week.

METALLICA are first-time nominees, with the nomination coming 25 years after the release of the band's 1983 debut album, "Kill 'Em All". An act must be recording for a quarter century in order to be eligible. The induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland on April 4 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum itself and will be broadcast live on the Fuse cable channel. Previous ceremonies have been held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

In a press conference broadcast on the Fuse cable music channel, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was asked why induction into the Hall of Fame was different from other accolades the band has received. "I think it is pretty different as in, it happens once," he said. "You know, some of the other shows and things where you're getting awards, you can continue to get those. But this, this happens once, and this is a celebration of not only us, but all the people who have helped with the vision to get there."

Lars Ulrich said that to him induction into the Hall of Fame meant unity with the rest of rock history. "You know, we are part of a bigger picture and, you know, you're a link in some chain of everybody that's come before you and everybody that's coming after you," he said. "And I really, personally love rock and roll history, love everything about how everything fits together in different genres and different bands and all this type of stuff. So to be part of that kind of history, and also to be in there to help inspire what's coming after us, to me is a great, great honor."

Hetfield was asked to speculate on what late bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a 1986 bus crash, would have thought of the induction. "I hate playing what-ifs," he replied. " I love being here right now. You know, the spirit of Cliff lives in us, we take him everywhere we can, so I want to think that he would love this, the fact that METALLICA is being recognized as something to reckon with."

Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke about fellow inductee Jeff Beck. "For me, Jeff Beck is one of my heroes and has been ever since I picked up a guitar," he said. "In fact, like, one of the very first guitar solos I learned how to play was off of the Truth album. And so I'm really, really excited about the fact that, you know, he's being inducted the same time we are, and I'm looking forward to playing some guitar with him at some point."

For the first time in the Hall's history, tickets to the ceremony will be available to the general public. Hall and Museum members can buy tickets in a pre-sale on January 22 and January 23, with walk-up sales at the box office taking place on January 24 and Ticketmaster sales beginning on January 26.

Members of METALLICA's fan club should check Metclub.com for information about a special club ticket sale.

Presenters and performers at the ceremony have yet to be announced.

In addition to current METALLICA members Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, previous bassists Jason Newsted and Burton will also be inducted.