Stereo Warning: Lars Ulrich from Metallica -- interview part 3

Here is the final piece of the interview with Lars Ulrich from Metallica. Enjoy !

Where do you see the music business going?
It's an interesting time right now. A lot of defining things will happen for the next decade but it's not settled yet. For the next record we can do whatever we want. We look at all options but it's too early to say. By the time the next Metallica record rolls around who knows what the landscape will be. It goes back to communicating with the fans -- a few options would be to cut out the record company. Their biggest function is being a bank. When you don't need them to pay for stuff you don't really need a record company. You can go with independent distribution or do it over the internet. I'll figure it out in five years. Now it's interesting to see what Trent is doing, what Radiohead is doing, but it feels like everything is in transition right now.

Let's talk about art for a bit. How did you become an art collector?
We had art all over the house when I was growing up. It’s been a passion of mine for 20-25 years. It’s one area where I can go and be myself. It’s not about being in Metallica or being the drummer in a rock band. I’m accepted for who I am in the art circles. I love going into artist spaces and galleries and auction houses. It’s great because it has absolutely nothing to do with Metallica. It’s my place of sanctuary.

What was the first painting you bought?
The first piece that I got was a Warhol. It’s a lithograph of three apples that my parents had when I was growing up. My parents sold it when they divorced and I chased it down and bought it back. So I have the apples that were hanging in the dining room when I was growing up.

How did you get into Basquiat?
Basquiat is just so incredible in his rawness and he was the last great American painter who got a lot of his inspiration and influence from a lot of guys that I really like, like Jean Dubufett and Asger Jorn. I really like paintings. I’m not much into conceptual art. I respect it but it’s not something that does a lot for me.

How many Basquiats did you have?
I’ve had four, but I just sold my last one.

Do you feel any nostalgia for the paintings?
Yes, but it’s also an exercise that I force myself to go through because you don’t own art. The artists own art. You just hold on to it to enjoy it for a while. It becomes a revolving door, and I have to continue to put those paintings out there. There is very little art that I hoard. I’ve had 10-15 great years with some of these paintings and now it’s time to get some other ones.

What else do you collect?
I collect a lot of modern design, furniture and artifacts. Danish design like Poul Kjaerholm, Arne Jacobsen and Hans Wegner and also a lot of African art. I enjoy a lot of different things.

How is Lars the art collector different than Lars the drummer?
I’m not sure he’s any different. He’s very passionate and he’s very into it. He researches and reads and gets to know the living artists that he’s collecting. He takes it very seriously.

When do you have the time for all of this with the band and three kids?
I don’t know. It’s what happens when you spend too much time in airplanes...

Do you have a favorite contemporary artist we should keep an eye on?
I’m getting into a lot of younger guys. In the last 10-15 years I’ve been buying a lot of more established names but in the last two or three years I’ve mostly been getting into really young guys that you’re not gonna know, like John Koerner. I’ve started going into galleries and studios a lot more, seeing artists paint. It’s very exciting. I’m meeting a lot of cool people - young guys who are really keen and hungry.

Tags: photos pictures lars ulrich metallica james hetfield kirk hammett rob trujillo robert trujillo