In 2011, Metallica collaborated with Lou Reed on the album “Lulu” – a record that, sadly, turned out to be Reed’s last. Upon its release, “Lulu” received a very polarizing reception, with many fans being critical of the album. Throughout the years, however, Metallica members have remained proud of the LP.
While speaking to Rolling Stone in a recent interview, guitarist Kirk Hammett recalled working on “Lulu,” revealing that the writing process was extremely emotional.
“That album means so much to me for a number of reasons. The lyrics are amazing. It’s poetry from track to track. I’m a huge Lou Reed fan. To be able to hang out with him and work with him musically meant so much. And the track ‘Junior Dad’ — I can’t listen to it, man. Brings me to tears,” he explained.
He continued, admitting that at one point Reed made him and frontman James Hetfield cry: “I remember when Lou said, ‘I have a song for you and I want this to be on the album.’ And he played it for James and I. And by the end of the song, I looked at James, and James looked at me and we both had tears in our eyes. Then Lou Reed came in and saw us both crying in the kitchen. He’s smiling and he said, ‘I got you, didn’t I?'”
Hammett also revealed that Reed was very opposed to having solos on the album.
“I remember I started doing some wah-wah stuff, and he just went up to the mic and said, ‘No.’ I was like, ‘What?’ And he goes, ‘No guitar solos.’ I’m like, ‘OK.’ And then I remember at one point I went to a Phrygian dominant, you know, it’s kind of Eastern sounding scale. And he went up to the mic and said, ‘No belly dancing music,’” he recalled.
