METALLICA Members Talk About ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME Induction; Video Available

METALLICA held a press conference earlier today (Wednesday, January 14) in New York City to answer questions about their upcoming induction into the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The entire 20-minute question-and-answer session can be viewed below (courtesy of Fuse TV). A couple of excerpts from the conference follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

Q: You've won so many accolades throughout your career. Is this one different in any way, and if so, how?

James Hetfield (guitar, vocals): I think it is pretty different — as in, it happens once. Some of the other shows and things where you're getting awards, you're continuing on with your career and you're exploring, doing new albums and things like that, and you can continue to get those, but this happens once. And I think management has helped us realize that this is extremely important and this is a celebration of not only us but all the people who have helped with the vision to get there. And to include everyone in the celebration of the career.

Lars Ulrich (drums): To me, it's about unity. We are part of the bigger picture. You're a link in some chain of everybody that's come before you and everybody that's coming after you. I really personally love rock 'n' roll history, love everything about how everything fits together in different genres and different bands and all this type of stuff, but to be part of that kind of history and also to be in there to help inspire what's coming after us, to me, it's a great, great honor.

Q: Who would you like to have induct you?

James Hetfield: I think that's an ongoing discussion. Between who the people actually know and care about, who actually respects you as a band… You don't want just some popular guy who's attracting TV viewers to induct you just because of that. So there's an ongoing discussion [about that].

Q: Is every member who's ever been in METALLICA part of the induction?

James Hetfield: Absolutely. Whoever's been playing on albums is kind of it, I guess. From the recording of your first record on. Absolutely, absolutely.

Q: What do you think Cliff [Burton; late METALLICA bassist] would have thought about this whole thing?

James Hetfield: The spirit of Cliff lives in us — we take him everywhere we can — and so I want to think that he would love this: The fact that METALLICA is being recognized as something to be reckoned with.

Lars Ulrich: Cliff was a big believer in doing your own thing, being unique in your way, not selling out and kind of… When I look at the last 25, 27 years, what I'm proudest of is the fact that we can sit here and look at you and say we've done this our way — we've taken all these different turns and steps and all this, and a few missteps here along the way, but 27-28 years later, we're here, you guys are here, we're sharing this moment, and I know Cliff would be super-proud of that. I know he would champion this moment as much as anybody else.

Q: James, you mentioned that you'd like Jason [Newsted; former METALLICA bassist] to accompany you guys, or be there, at the induction ceremony. Have you reached out to him?

James Hetfield: Yes, there's been contact with him, for sure.

Q: And what was his response?

James Hetfield: I haven't heard exactly what his response was, but there's been an invite put out, no doubt. I mean, the fact that we're relevant today, we're being inducted, we've got an album that's doing really good, there's Grammy nominations, AND we're being inducted into the Hall of Fame?! At that point, it's unbelievable. And we're in a good space. We want everyone to celebrate that fact — everyone who's been a part of it. Jason has been a big part of that. You don't want to see the drama of a… unfortunately, BLONDIE or PISTOLS or VAN HALEN. It's ridiculous. This is METALLICA's moment — along with others — but let's celebrate. Let's forget the crap… [Let's] invite whoever wants to be part of it. Have a party with all the people who have been there.

Kirk Hammett (guitar): It's gonna be like a big reunion for us.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for April 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, where the Hall of Fame and Museum are located. The show marks the first time since 1997 that it will be staged in Cleveland after several years in New York.