There seems to be a formula to these interviews: 1) Genuflect to rhythm games as a whole, citing at least one quality that inspires music appreciation. 2) Tell people how you, a world-class musician, suck atrociously at playing the instrument controllers. 3) Mention the oldest-school game you can think of when someone asks you what you grew up playing, even if you haven't touched a console in years and won't ever again once your game finally releases.

How does Hetfield do? Well:

1) "I think Guitar Hero is a great gateway drug to real music. If you've got the music bug, nothing's gonna stop you. It's your destiny to express your gift."

Check!

2) "The initial thought was, 'This is gonna be so easy.' And then I picked it up and tried doing it. And it was like [makes plunking sound]. 'Are you kidding me? You guys suck! You're supposed to follow me!' I gotta be on with the lines. And Metallica's not as on with the lines as some other bands. Especially having Lars as a drummer [Laughs]."

A little overboard there, but still satisfactory.

3) [Q: What's the first video game you fell in love with?] "My buddy had Pong. We were obsessed with it. That was it, man."

And ... check! Awesome job, James Hetfield!

Metallica's James Hetfield Calls "Guitar Hero" a "Gateway Drug": Inside the Band's New Game [Rolling Stone]

Disappointingly, the Metallica founder, who will digitally appear in Guitar Hero Metallica in May doesn't have the skills to unlock his own song. Lars tells music mag Blender the sad tale of proving to his kids that, you know, there are actually Metallica songs in Guitar Hero III.

"We were never good enough to earn our way to play 'One.'" Ulrich says. "So after a couple of months, my kids didn't actually believe there was a Metallica song in this fuckin' game, so I had to call the guys: "Can we get the cheat codes, please?" And the same thing with 'Enter Sandman' on Rock Band.'"

But wait, it gets more disheartening.

"I'll tell you a little secret about the gaming industry: You know who gave me the cheat codes to Rock Band? The guy at Guitar Hero! Isn't it nice how they all sort of work together in a perverse way?" Ulrich said. Well, that shatters the illusion that Harmonix and Neversoft employees guard their secrets with ruthless abandon and that if either developer is seen on the other's turf, a switchblade fight ensues.

Lars also recounts the harrowing tale of being wedged into a motion capture suit, which Guitar Hero Metallica tune is his sentimental favorite and how three Kill 'Em All tracks almost didn't make it into the game.

Lars Ulrich Reveals the Secrets Behind Guitar Hero Metallica [Blender]

You'll find most of the band's older classics represented ("One", "Master of Puppets", "For Whom The Bell Tolls", etc), and should also find the selection of tracks from "other" bands - like Kyuss, Queen, Slayer & The Sword - to your liking as well.

The complete tracklist below.

Metallica Songs

All Nightmare Long
Battery
Creeping Death
Disposable Heroes
Dyers Eve
Enter Sandman
Fade To Black
Fight Fire With Fire
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Frantic
Fuel
Hit The Lights
King Nothing
Master of Puppets
Mercyful Fate (Medley)
No Leaf Clover
Nothing Else Matters
One
Orion
Sad But True
Seek And Destroy
The Memory Remains
The Shortest Straw
The Thing That Should Not Be
The Unforgiven
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Wherever I May Roam
Whiplash

Other Artists

Alice In Chains - No Excuses
Bob Seger - Turn The Page
Corrosion of Conformity - Albatross
Diamond Head - Am I Evil?
Foo Fighters - Stacked Actors
Judas Priest - Hell Bent For Leather
Kyuss - Demon Cleaner
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tuesdays Gone
Machine Head - Beautiful Mourning
Mastodon - Blood And Thunder
Mercyful Fate - Evil
Michael Schenker Group - Armed and Ready
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Queen - Stone Cold Crazy
Samhain - Mother of Mercy
Slayer - War Ensemble
Social Distortion - Mommy's Little Monster
Suicidal Tendencies - War Inside My Head
System of a Down - Toxicity
The Sword - Black River
Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back in Town

PS3 and 360 owners should note that if you've already got the "Death Magnetic" DLC, those ten tracks will be included in the game's main "campaign" mode. If you've got World Tour on Wii or PS2 version, the tracks "Broken Beat & Scarred," "Cyanide" and "My Apocalypse" will come included on the disc, since DLC is impossible/tricky on those systems.

Guitar Hero . . . The Songs [Metallica]

The second-class consoles, Wii and PlayStation 2, will get their own versions of Guitar Hero: Metallica, but not until Spring, which translates to "likely in early May."

Metallica's official site reminds us about what's new in Guitar Hero: Metallica, including 28 tracks from the titular band, as well as guest appearances from Alice In chains, Foo Fighters and Slayer. For more info, hit up the band's official site.

Guitar Hero . . . Worst Kept Secret, Part II [Metallica.com - thanks, François!]

Despite "Raining Blood" already making an appearance in the series, courtesy of Guitar Hero III, Metallica drummer/public spokeshole Lars Ulrich has told Game Informer magazine:

I'm super psyched we got Slayer in there. Slayer's got to be part of any heavy metal video game. There had been some issues with their lyrics. That gets into a whole slew of stuff like, 'Microsoft won't do it if this lyrical content is in there.' There's all this bullshit you have to deal with, but we stood up for Slayer, and we finally got Slayer cleared like a week ago.

Glad this is both coming up, and getting sorted out, now. Many of the world's finest rock/metal songs have naughty words in them (an issue now because the game now uses both master recordings and on-screen lyrics), so hopefully more worthy, naughty bands can be included in the future, even if they don't have angry little European men to lean on multinational corporations.

Metallica: getting Slayer into Guitar Hero was a challenge [Game Informer, via Opposable Thumbs] [Image]

No, we don't think the score from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly will be playable, but it sets the mood [and commenter FarmboyInJapan informs us the song is played prior to each of the band's shows - Ed.]. Perhaps it's Metallica's subtle way of saying that James Hetfield's in-game character model is downright hideous? I mean, I know the dude's not exactly oozing handsome in real life, but he looks goddamn scary in Guitar Hero: Metallica.

The rest of the trailer is all about "Master of Puppets" and self-promotion, touting 20 of the band's "fiercest songs" and guitar or full band gameplay. I'm a little excited! I just hope we can revert to Garage Days Revisited skins and that Activision nixes any plans for a Cliff Burton zombie mode.

Guitar Hero: Metallica [Metallica]

Speaking with USA Today, the band have spoken on their hopes for the game, their involvement in the project and how the game has a...storyline. Lars Ulrich explains:

We wanted a little bit of a different slant. Basically, you start out and you play some songs and you get warmed up, and there's a competition. We're trying to pick a band to play with us and go on the road with us.

A storyline? How ambitious.

As usual, though, the most interesting thing anyone could string together came from Kirk Hammett, who is a lot more optimistic about the positive influences music games can have on kids than guys from other, shittier bands:

It is kind of weird to know that people are going to have an experience that is going to be similar to my own experience playing and performing music. It's going to open people up maybe to the prospect of taking the whole thing one step further and actually picking up an instrument. We might be rearing an entire culture of future musicians. That prospect is just super-cool.

Plenty more stuff at the links below, including the first screenshots.

First look: Metallica gets 'Guitar Hero' treatment [USA Today]

"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," Ulrich said. You know, Lars, we may not be thinking of the same reasons, but that actually makes perfect sense.

A handful of Metallica tracks have appeared in Harmonix's band game, but it sounds like Lars is implying that the band may be "proprietary" to Activision and Red Octane's brand, something CEO Bobby Kotick had warned us about.

Harmonix reps told us earlier this year that the stealth- announcement of Guitar Hero: Metallica doesn't alter their own plans for more Metallica DLC. We've seen no new Metallica tracks added to Rock Band's library, with the exception of "Battery" from Rock Band 2.

Ulrich also teases briefly about Guitar Hero: Metallica, the game that we all expect to see sometime in 2009.

Lars Ulrich Tells Why Metallica Went With 'guitar Hero' [KBS Radio]

[thanks everyone who sent this in!]

Somebody told me about [people complaining that the Guitar Hero version of Death Magnetic sounds better]. Listen, what are you going to do? A lot of people say [the CD] sounds great, and a few people say it doesn't, and that's OK. You gotta remember, when we put out ...And Justice for All, people were going, 'What happened to these guys, this record? There's no bass on it. It sounds like it was recorded in a fuckin' garage on an eight-track.' And now ...And Justice for All is sort of the seminal Metallica record that supposedly influenced a whole generation of death-metal bands. The difference between back then and now is the Internet.

The Internet gives everybody a voice, and the Internet has a tendency to give the complainers a louder voice. Listen, I can't keep up with this shit. Part of being in Metallica is that there's always somebody who's got a problem with something that you're doing: 'James Hetfield had something for breakfast that I don't like.' That's part of the ride.

Let me state it right here and let me state it once: We hate it when James Hetfield eats bran for breakfast.

Metallica Drummer Breaks Band's Silence [Blender via Idolator] [Pic]

Metallica's 'Death Magnetic': 'Guitar Hero' beats CD? [NME]

Ted Jensen, head engineer at Sterling Sound, who mastered the album, allegedly responded to fan concerns, writing "I’m not proud to be associated with this one, and we can only hope that some good will come from this in some form of backlash against volume above all else."

Oddly enough, the Guitar Hero versions of these tracks, released last Friday, are in one man's words, "perfect." Ian Shepherd of the Mastering Media Blog has compared both versions of the tracks, finding that the studio album versions on the CD and LP are no match for their Guitar Hero counterparts. And some fans are looking to rip the video game version for a better sounding album.

Surely, though, we can all agree it sounds better than St. Anger, Metallica's underwater tribute to banging on trash can lids for an hour.

Metallica "Death Magnetic" Clipping Distortion [Mastering Media Blog]

Better still the Guitar Hero downloadable album will include two exclusive renditions of Suicide & Redemption with extended solos by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. And to wrap up the good news, Activision says the album will be fully forward compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour, which is quite a trick considering the additional instruments in the new game.

“We’ve been working very closely with Metallica and we’re extremely excited to offer Death Magnetic not only in its entirety, but also with the exclusive recordings of ‘Suicide & Redemption’ as downloadable content to Guitar Hero fans,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. “We’re proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously.”

Death Magnetic will hit the 360 for 1,440 Microsoft Points and the Playstation Network for $17.99 on Sept. 12.

METALLICA BRINGS DEATH MAGNETIC TO GUITAR HERO® III: LEGENDS OF ROCK THIS FRIDAY TO MAKE MUSIC AND VIDEO GAMING HISTORY
Guitar Hero® to Feature Two Exclusive Versions of “Suicide and Redemption”
Downloadable Death Magnetic Album Also Forward Compatible with Upcoming Guitar Hero® World Tour

SANTA MONICA, CA – September 8, 2008 – In a monumental first for the gaming and music industries, Metallica’s highly anticipated ninth studio album Death Magnetic will be available in its entirety as downloadable content for Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock day and date with the album release this Friday, September 12. Featured on the downloadable album will be two Guitar Hero® exclusive renditions of “Suicide & Redemption” with extended solos by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Gamers looking to shred, drum and wail away to the Death Magnetic downloadable album need only purchase the content once as it is forward compatible and will integrate seamlessly with Guitar Hero® World Tour when it launches this October.

In addition to the two exclusive versions of “Suicide & Redemption,” Guitar Hero fans will live out the surreal Metallica experience with: “That Was Just Your Life,” “The End of the Line,” “Broken, Beat & Scared,” “The Day That Never Comes,” “All Nightmare Long,” “Cyanide,” “The Unforgiven Ill,” “The Judas Kiss” and “My Apocalypse.”

“We’ve been working very closely with Metallica and we’re extremely excited to offer Death Magnetic not only in its entirety, but also with the exclusive recordings of ‘Suicide & Redemption’ as downloadable content to Guitar Hero fans,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision Blizzard. “We’re proud to be setting a new precedent for our two industries, making an entire new album available in two different mediums simultaneously.”

Metallica’s Death Magnetic album will be available for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock on September 12, 2008 for download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft at a cost of 1440 Microsoft Points and in the PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system at a cost of $17.99.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock offers the ultimate rock experience with new wireless guitars, freshly added content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer modes allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true rock status as they riff through a star-studded soundtrack including master tracks by legendary artists such as Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, The Rolling Stones, Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Pearl Jam, as well as original songs by guitar icons Slash and Tom Morello. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is now available and is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB.

When the house lights go down this fall, a new generation of guitarists, drummers and fearless frontmen will come together and rock with Guitar Hero World Tour. The latest installment in the #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2007, Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online for the first time ever. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators will also be able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is being developed by Neversoft Entertainment for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version is being developed by Vicarious Visions. The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system version is being developed by Budcat. The game is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Let’s put it this way, [our next album] Death Magnetic comes out in September, and the day it comes out, it will be available in the Guitar Hero 3 format, which we’re obviously super-psyched about. As I’ve born witness to in my house, its all about the next generation. My kids play Guitar Hero every day, and to be able to get the Metallica record the day it comes out, that’s super cool.

There’s an Aerosmith game out there that’s super successful, and if somebody’s gonna follow that up…we’re talking, and its exciting, and the people at Guitar Hero and Activision are rapidly becoming our best new friends in the world. You can put the rest of it together yourself.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I think that maybe, just maybe, he's talking about a Guitar Hero Metallica game. Hit the jump for the video proof.

Lars Ulrich Gets Cagey About ‘Guitar Hero: Metallica’ [Multiplayer]

"Death Magnetic," the entire album, available for Guitar Hero too! [Metallica, via Guitar Hero News]

Finally, Metallica is coming to Guitar Hero in a big way, with DLC being readied to release alongside their new album, Death Magnetic, which is guaranteed to completely make up for Saint Sinner...as if any album could actually contain such power.

We were expecting to hear that Van Halen was the next group to be so prominently featured, but perhaps Activision CEO Bobby Kotick was just toying with us. Regardless, let's just hope there's more ...And Justice For All packed into this thing than there is Load.

Guitar Hero: Metallica due by Q1 '09 [GameSpot - thanks, John!]

You signed a lot of Guitar Hero controllers. Is that cool?

It's fucking way cool.

Our kids love playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band. It's awesome. There's something really positive coming out of video games. It's so cool to sit there and have your kids talk to you about Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and Soundgarden.