Over the decades, many Heavy Metal fans criticized Lars Ulrich as a drummer, believing that Metallica could have been a better band if someone else were behind the kit. Bill Ward, one of the founding members of Black Sabbath and therefore one of the creators of Heavy Metal music, said in an interview with LA Radio Sessions that the Danish drummer is a brilliant player.
Sabbath’s Bill Ward says Lars Ulrich is a brilliant drummer
“Lars, first of all, he’s the most huggable man. (Laughs) Of course I was with him recently (at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ event), and I was so happy that we could spend time together earlier when we did the last show with Black Sabbath, and we talked, I think, for about an hour nonstop. I mean, when me and him start talking — it’s a bit like when I’m with Johnny Kelly from Type O (Negative), to be honest with you.”
“As a matter of fact, you know what?! That can go for all the drummers that I meet. But we gave each other big hugs all the time. And we passed a lot of things between us. There’s a lot of history between us. There’s a lot of honor between us. I know that he’s a huge fan of Black Sabbath and I’m a huge fan of Metallica. I just love Metallica. I love Lars’s drumming. He’s had to find himself, as have all the band, they’ve found a niche or a place where they can exist and dominate in heavy metal.”
“When I first met them, they were really young — all the guys (were) really (young). I think I first met Lars when he was about 18 years old, 19 years old at the most. So, they have created their own society and a musical genre that is unto themselves. And it’s such a great name, Metallica.”
He contiued:
“Lars is a brilliant drummer. He’s persevering, he works hard. I’ve seen him work hard. And he’s such a nice man. And again, I don’t know what it is with fucking drummers, but everybody rattles — ‘rattles’ is Astonian for ‘talks a lot’ — and so when we get together, he does all the talking, to be honest, and then I try to find a gap where, if he goes silent while he’s taking a breath, I try to find a gap where I can get in a word. I love him to death. When I put my arms around him, he could stay there forever. I love his family. I love how he plays. So, he’s just one of the best people to know,” Bill Ward said (Transcribed by Blabbermouth).
During the Black Sabbath reunion tour which happened in the 2010s, Ward was replaced by the Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave drummer Brad Wilk on their final album “13”. On the tour it was the Ozzy Osbourne drummer Tommy Clufetos who occupied his place.