Lars Ulrich
Lars Ulrich is Metallica’s Danish drummer, co-founder and songwriter, sharing his love of heavy music through records, live shows and his radio series Lars’ Deep Dive.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Lars’s team an official invite.
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Latest
Lars’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- December 26, 1963 · Gentofte, Denmark
- Known as
- Metallica’s drummer, co-founder and songwriter
- Started Metallica
- 1981 · Los Angeles, with James Hetfield
- Breakout
- Master of Puppets (1986), followed by the worldwide success of Metallica (1991)
- On the radio
- Host of Lars’ Deep Dive on SiriusXM’s Maximum Metallica
Mini bio
How it started.
Growing up in Denmark, Lars followed his father Torben’s professional tennis world. Seeing Deep Purple before his tenth birthday sparked a lasting devotion to heavy music. His grandmother bought him his first drum kit at 13, and music gradually took priority over tennis.
Finding his people.
In 1981, Lars and James Hetfield formed Metallica after connecting through Lars’ ad in the LA Recycler. Their demo No Life ’Til Leather spread through tape trading. The band moved to the Bay Area and released its debut, Kill ’Em All, in 1983.
Records fans return to.
Master of Puppets and a support tour with Ozzy Osbourne brought Metallica to a wider audience in 1986. The 1991 Black Album took that reach further with Enter Sandman and Nothing Else Matters. Lars is a credited co-writer of both songs, as well as Master of Puppets.
Still listening, still playing.
Lars co-produced 72 Seasons with James Hetfield and Greg Fidelman. Alongside Metallica’s live work, he hosts Lars’ Deep Dive, sharing music that shaped him, beginning with AC/DC deep cuts.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026Lars’ Deep DiveHost · Maximum Metallica, SiriusXM
- 2025Metallica · Apple Immersive concert experiencePerformer with Metallica
- 202372 SeasonsDrummer and co-producer with James Hetfield and Greg Fidelman
- 1991Enter SandmanDrummer and co-writer with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett
- 1991Nothing Else MattersDrummer and co-writer with James Hetfield
- 1986Master of PuppetsDrummer and co-writer with James Hetfield, Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett
Awards
Quotes
I don't like to be pigeonholed, and I really like that people never really know what's going on with Metallica.Lars Ulrich, quoted by the Recording Academy
The Recording Academy includes this reflection on Metallica’s unpredictability in its artist biography.
Trivia
- Jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon is his godfather.
- His grandmother bought his first drum kit when he was 13.
- As a teenager in 1981, he traveled to England to see Diamond Head and stayed with the band for a while.
- He curated a cinema area at Metallica’s Orion Music + More festival in 2012.
Find Lars
Follow Lars for tour reflections, music discoveries and moments behind the drums.
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