Lars Ulrich, born on December 26, 1963, in Gentofte, Denmark, is a Danish musician best known as the drummer and co-founder of the legendary American heavy metal band Metallica. Alongside James Hetfield, Ulrich has been a key creative force behind nearly all of the band’s music and remains one of its two original members. Coming from a lineage of accomplished tennis players, including his father Torben and grandfather Einer Ulrich, Lars was initially on a path toward a tennis career before shifting his focus to music. His passion for drumming was ignited after attending a Deep Purple concert at age nine, which led to him receiving his first drum kit in his early teens.
Ulrich moved to California in 1980 to further his tennis ambitions but was unsuccessful in making his high school team. This setback, combined with his growing interest in rock and heavy metal, prompted him to pursue music full-time. Inspired by British bands like Diamond Head and witnessing concerts by groups like Y&T, Ulrich was determined to form his own band. In 1981, he placed an ad in a Los Angeles classifieds paper seeking fellow musicians, which was answered by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield. Together, they founded Metallica—a band that would go on to revolutionize heavy metal and achieve massive global success.
Throughout Metallica’s career, Ulrich has played a pivotal role not only as a drummer but also as a business-minded figure in the band’s operations. He is known for his aggressive drumming style, especially in the band’s early thrash metal era, and his outspoken nature, particularly during the early 2000s Napster controversy where he took a strong stance on artist rights in the digital age. Beyond his contributions to music, Ulrich’s multicultural background, including Jewish heritage and a deep connection to European and American cultural influences, has helped shape his unique voice in rock history.
