Lars Ulrich on why Metallica is Guitar Hero exclusive

by Richard Mitchell on Oct 23rd 2008 12:30PM

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich recently told KBS Radio why the band decided to offer its music on Guitar Hero while denying it to Rock Band. Ulrich's somewhat cryptic reasoning: "We had to make a decision, and it was one or the other, and we felt that Guitar Hero were more suited for what we were looking for. They were ready to step up on a number of fronts and it's been great." Ulrich did not elaborate on how exactly Activision "stepped up," though he does mention the rumors of a Metallica themed Guitar Hero. Ulrich did not confirm such a game was in the works, instead saying "who knows what's gonna lurk next year, but it's pretty exciting."

So, Activision stepped up and Guitar Hero was more suited to what Metallica was looking for. Somehow we get the feeling that Activision stepped up with a suitcase full of money, which is exactly what Metallica was looking for.

Source

Tags: guitar-hero, metallica, rock-band

Reader Comments (48)

"They paid us more."

"And we don't need to get haircuts? Done deal!"

Exactly.

Yep. Honestly, wouldn't a game showcasing the whole band be more suited to Metallica? I mean, good vocals, drumming, and guitar? Duh. GH offers (in the past) guitar. Obviously it was money.

Rumors? Sorry but Guitar Hero: Metallica is official

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=rEH4QK833oU

I bet Activision finally bought him that gold plated shark tank bar for his pool that he always wanted.

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/103759/?tag=Lars+Ulrich

Of course there is going to be Guitar Hero:Metallica, and yes, it will be all instruments. Duh.

Who is he kidding? He knows exactly how they stepped up! Lars is all about the cash

He's also all about being a huge douche.

I love how idiotic the anti-GH sentiment can be.

Let me get this straight, if RB: Metallica came out as a stand-alone game (Just like AC/DC!) which you'd still have to pay full retail price for.. somehow it would be an awesome game?

Yet, with the GH name, it's garbage. Great logic there.

The game is stand-alone. It supports every instrument peripheral out there, including your RB instruments if you prefer. It has all 3 instruments + Vocals, as RB does.

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE DIFFERENCE?!

Oh.. because Guitar Hero didnt come out on Xbox first like Rock Band 2 did. They didnt give platform exclusivity in Europe for a year. Oh I see. Well that is completely relevant. Just because Activision doesnt publically felate Microsoft doesnt make them a shit developer. It certainly doesnt make RB any better than GH. Though I suppose on this site, it does.

I'm a big RB fan (and I dislike GH), but I'll be the first to admit that the AC/DC Rock Band game is stupid. Fortunately, I don't like AC/DC or Metallica that much, so I don't have any problem with refusing to purchase these products. I just think that band-specific versions of GH and RB are stupid and should be avoided.

I do find it deliciously ironic that you accuse of Activision of not "publically felat(ing) Microsoft". How did the Call of Duty betas treat you? Because, as a PS3 owner, they weren't so good for me.

Christ, you are dumb. GH dug their own grave with force-bundled DLC and exorbitant prices, not to mention "fixing" gameplay that wasn't broken with bullshit like power-ups and boss battles. You GH apologists are so full of shit, you act like everyone is coming down on your game for no reason. Activision/RO brought it on themselves. Will they get it right this time? Maybe, since they are copying the superior game instead of trying to get overly "creative" like last time.

"Let me get this straight, if RB: Metallica came out as a stand-alone game (Just like AC/DC!) which you'd still have to pay full retail price for.. somehow it would be an awesome game?"

The bands are to blame for the "greed" here - the quotes from the AC/DC guitarist about their release ("we don't want people to only hear singles") is almost as stomach-turning as Lars' bullshit. The reason Rock Band is better is that, aside from AC/DC, Harmonix has done a fantastic job with their content. Guitar Hero is just adding another gallon of shit to their already substantial pile with this Metallica nonsense.

yeah koehler you pretty got owned by Kizzle. by the way i own guitar hero 2 with guitar, guitar hero 3 with guitar as well as both rock band will all the rock band 1 insturments and i think rock band is far superior. i like them both but simply rock band is better for all the reasons Kizzle mentioned.

I dont' think I'm going to buy all these stand alone games. Rock Band 2 is more than enough fake music playing for me.

I love Metallica, but seriously... how much fake guitar / bass can one person play?

I think this game trend is going to die very quickly now.

Music games have become more popular than sports games, it won't die out anytime soon.

They can keep their new shit for all I care.

I remember when Metallica was good. Before they sold out to the man.

LOL... yeah, I was a kid when they were "good" and I'm almost 30 now ;)

I, for one, am happy that Guitar Hero has an exclusive lock on Metallica. They can have them. One less band I would rather not hear to clog up the DLC channel for Rock Band.

Hey Metallica, remember when it was "just about the music?"

Be upfront. "Activision offered us more money than we could have made by being on RB and GH." RB fans might be upset, but at least you'd be honest.

Money?, isnt that what Metallica is all about? In the past 15 to 20 years everything about them is money driven. Remember there first album that went main stream and made them millions? .... (Metallica / The black Album) Since then all there music sounds like that album. Which other band whines and cries as much as they do about pirated music, knock off t-shirts. They will endorse anything if the price is right.

Unforgivin 1
Unforgivin 2
Unforgivin 3

But i digress .... imo

metallica rules!! hetfield is god!!!

I remember a similar situation... Stepped up indeed.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2000/20001023h.jpg

Come on.. It's always about the money. Same with RockBand and AC/DC. Don't fool yourself into thinking these bands or game companies are really out for Joe The Gamer. It all about thay munnnny!

Lars Ulrich on why Metallica is Guitar Hero exclusive

"We like money"

Why did it have to be "one or the other?" Is it really unheard of to be part of both?

whats all this negative crap against metallica in this blog?

"Somehow we get the feeling that Activision stepped up with a suitcase full of money, which is exactly what Metallica was looking for"

whats the point in writing something stuppid like that?

pathetic anti metallica fans....just because of the napster thing ppl always flame em when they get the chance.....metallica do more for the fans and give fans more for free then any other band.

get your facts straight.

ill be going somewhere else for my xbox news now...with some seriuos articles.

Good. And please, tell us, what has Metallica done for the fans? Offer an album for download for free or pay what you feel it was worth? If they were "for the fans" they would have allowed Harmonix to include Sandman in RB2 instead of restricting it.

Yeah, seriously. The only thing I'm aware of Metallica doing "for their fans" is taking their money and suing them. Gee, I can't wait till my favorite band sues me. It'll be swell. Metallica is shit. Their sales aren't down because people are stealing their music. Their sales are down because their music (at least post-1989) isn't worth listening to. Maybe they should just come to terms with that...

"whats the point in writing something stuppid like that?"

Um, maybe the point is writing something STUPID like that is that it's, um, true? Seriously, how could you believe any different? What other reason could they have for suing anyone they can think of? Sadly though, it will probably do well. I honestly think that has nothing to do with the band, however. You could probably put out Guitar Hero: Flock of Seagulls and sell a million copies...

Lars Ulrich is the bigest pice of shit I have ever seen! I'm glad there stuff isn't on rockband, leaves more room for GOOD music.

During an interview I remember reading Harmonix/EA didn't want to do ANY exclusive only deals. Then they go and do the AC/DC deal. Granted, it could have been AC/DC requesting exclusivity, but still...

AC/DC is only a timed exclusive for Rock Band. HMX said it themselves.

Who cares.... that face scares me.

sell outs 4 life..band sucks anyway

all the better--means less little kids on rock band who want to just play metallica. Broaden your music horizons people.

WHAT?? Are you nuts? 'Cos Metallica really need the money dont they - so that could have really swayed their decision. Any money Activision could have offered would be laughable at the second biggest band on the planet. I doubt money has sod all to do with it.

sirkarkus - sell outs for life? hahaha

Yes another music so called "fan" who doesnt give a damn about music but the status they think it gives them. Instead of worrying about who you THINK sold out, try listening to the bloody music instead of jumping on the bandwagon. Just cos most people on the internet hate metallica cos they stopped you STEALING their music everyone hates em. Wel, I would rather be hated than be robbed - so go for it Metallica. True fans listen and will play to the music, they dont care you cut your hair short to appear to more audiences, cos they had the forsight to know that musical status means fuck all - its about getting it out there to be listened to and enjoyed. So heres to not conforming Metallica - rock on - the trolls will always be upset they cant steal your music anymore as they are too thick to get a job to be able to pay for the music.

I love Metallica, but please please please, lets have Guitar Hero: Iron Maiden next if they are gonna do anymore of these GH spin offs :)

I hope the game tanks.

I wont buy if even put more cowball into it.

Another poor decision based on money... Hopefully Tool didn't sell themselves to be GH exclusive... am sad... want Tool Rock Band songs!

I'm pretty sure Tool will only be on GH. There was an interview on IGN with Adam Jones (Tool guitarist) and he basically said we chose GH because they worked with us and let us choose the style of the venue and how they wanted to be in the game. They are very particular when they license their music.

With the Tool songs, you don't see a band on stage. You see what you would see in the album artwork. Funky colors, pictures, eyes moving around, etc.

http://xbox360.ign.com/dor/objects/14272830/guitar-hero-world-tour-game-only/videos/ghwt_tool_101608.html

As for this metallica exclusivity, it just means they got more money from activision. The South Park episode was dead on with some of these bands and how money is the only thing they think about.

If any of the old RB or GH "instruments" work with the game, then I don't care what brand they are exclusive to. I've been a fan of Metallica's music since I can remember, so this would be a no brainer for me. The only thing that would suck about it is having to switch out your game discs (unless it's like a disc with DLC on it). I just hope they have a really long and ass-kicking set list. I would love some classic Kill 'em All tunes (No Remorse, Metal Milita, The Four Horsemen) and stuff from Ride the Lightning (Fade to Black, Fight Fire With Fire, Creeping Death). And if it isn't compatible with other game controllers, I still have Lightning, Justice, and Blackened as RB DLC anyway.

Why don't you guy's start your rockband2fanboy site already? This site is way too biased towards rock band 2. It's getting irritating. I've been a reader on this site for a while but am losing respect by the day. Why even post something like this if all your going to do is bash the game with no proof to backup your claims?

Exclusivity is something that is going to happen no matter what. It just kills me how some of you are actually MAD at the fact that Metallica is getting a stand-alone title. You don't have to like them but you have to admit, Metallica has been rocking for over 20 years and have a helluva library. More people would buy that than AC/DC or Aerosmith. Eventhough Lars is a whore with a constant herpe flare-up, he knows the money from that game will grow on trees and when it falls he will be there with rake in hand.

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Lars Ulrich on why Metallica is Guitar Hero exclusive

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