Robert Trujillo recalls doing his laundry at Sudsy Malone’s on Short Vine in the early ’90s, when his band at the time, Suicidal Tendencies, was in town for a show across the street at Bogart’s.
It’s safe to say Trujillo no longer washes his own clothes on the road. The bass player now tours in the comfort reserved for arena-rock royalty. Trujillo became a member of Metallica in 2003, and Tuesday he and the band come to town for the second show of another leg of a tour in support of “Death Magnetic,” the 2008 CD hailed as a return to the band’s thrash roots.
Speaking by phone from Metallica’s home base in Northern California, Trujillo addressed the hot topic in the world of metal: a rumored tour of Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax.
Does Lars (Ulrich, Metallica drummer) talk to the New York and L.A. papers, and they make you talk to the Midwestern cities since you’re the new guy?
I get all the fun places. I’m a fan of Ohio. I’ve got my Ohio State jersey.
There’s a rumor going around now about the four classic thrash bands touring together. How would you feel about being part of that?
I think it’s great. We’ve had a few different conversations on the subject. I’m friends with (Slayer’s) Kerry King and had dinner with him a few months back, and it came up there. I think (Megadeth’s) Dave Mustaine is amazing. I’ve never had a problem with him personally. I think it’d be great if Metallica shared the stage with his band. Metallica’s still great friends with (Anthrax’s) Scott Ian. There’s a lot of history there. I think it’d be great for metal. I don’t think all four bands have played together at the same time.
So there’s truth to the rumor?
There is, but nothing’s concrete. It’s not a sealed deal. We’re working on it.
How would egos come into play in terms of the order of bands on the bill?
Oh, there’d be a lot of egos. I think we’d be OK. It’d be an issue with the other three bands.
How so? Would Dave Mustaine have an issue opening for Metallica?
I don’t think that would be an issue. I think it would be more an issue between Megadeth and Slayer.
What’s the story there?
I don’t know if it would depend on the city, but I’m sure between those two bands, they would want to be up on the bill. I don’t know. Who knows? My prediction is that maybe there would be something there. The only way we would do it is if we’re headlining, and we would probably be the ones to put it together. I’m not saying that in a disrespectful way. All of these bands are amazing and super-cool.
You played with Ozzy. Maybe you could get Sharon Osbourne to put the tour together.
Oh man, yeah. Let’s see. She’s a phone call away. Maybe I can get Ozzy to manage the situation. He’d sort them all out.
When is Metallica recording its next album?
I don’t know – maybe next week, maybe tomorrow. Who knows? I’ll talk to the guys today and see if they’re up for it. Actually there’s gonna be about another year of touring, so that’s a hard one to say. There are a lot of ideas floating around. We always have recording gear on tour with us so we’re always recording our ideas, but obviously the songs have not been written.
Do you expect the new record to be a continuation of the “Death Magnetic” sound?
Going back to “Death Magnetic,” it was great because (producer) Rick Rubin helped kind of bring Lars and (singer-guitarist) James (Hetfield) back into that sort of thrashy element. I think it will have a thrash factor. Keep it heavy. Keep it grooving. Keep it thrashy.
