View source for Lars Ulrich

{{Short description|Danish drummer (born 1963)}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Lars Ulrich
| honorific_suffix  = {{post-nominals|size=100%|list=[[Order of the Dannebrog|R]]}}
| image             = Metallica at the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song ceremony, 2024 (Lars Ulrich crop).jpg
| caption           = Ulrich in 2024
| birth_date        = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|df=yes|1963|12|26}}}}
| birth_place       = [[Gentofte Municipality|Gentofte]], Denmark
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Thrash metal]]
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
}}
| instrument        = Drums
| occupation        = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| years_active      = 1980–present
| current_member_of = [[Metallica]]
| spouse            = {{ubl|{{marriage|Debbie Jones|1988|1990|reason=divorced}}|{{marriage|Skylar Satenstein|1997|2004|reason=divorced}}|{{marriage|[[Jessica Miller (model)|Jessica Miller]]|2015}}}}
| partner           = [[Connie Nielsen]] (2004–2012)
{{Infobox person|embed=yes
| children          = 3
| father            = [[Torben Ulrich]]
}}
}}
'''Lars Ulrich''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʊ|l|r|ɪ|k|audio=en-us-Ulrich.oga}}; {{IPA|da|ˈlɑːs ˈulˀʁek|lang}}; born 26 December 1963) is a Danish{{efn|Ulrich has clarified multiple times that he is only a Danish citizen who lives permanently in the United States.}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Lars Ulrich: Jeg flytter hjem hvis ...|url=https://ekstrabladet.dk/musik/dkmusiknyt/lars-ulrich-jeg-flytter-hjem-hvis/6312835|quote="Nej, jeg er hundrede procent dansk statsborger"/"No, I am one hundred percent Danish citizen"|first=Thomas|last=Treo|publisher=[[Ekstra Bladet]]|date=26 September 2016|access-date=6 December 2017|language=da}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-lars-ulrich-on-whom-he-would-vote-for-in-2020-u-s-presidential-election-fans-out-there-can-probably-put-two-and-two-together|title=METALLICA's LARS ULRICH On Whom He Would Vote For In 2020 U.S. Presidential Election: 'Fans Out There Can Probably Put Two And Two Together'|date=3 September 2020|quote=So, let's just leave it at that I'm a Danish citizen, I can't vote, but I am happy to live in the United States. And I think that's enough on that.}}</ref> musician who is the drummer and a founding member of American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Metallica]]. Along with [[James Hetfield]], Ulrich has songwriting credits on almost all of the band's songs, and the two of them are the only remaining original members of the band.

The son and grandson respectively of [[tennis]] players [[Torben Ulrich|Torben]] and [[Einer Ulrich]], he played tennis in his youth and moved to [[Los Angeles]] at age 16 to train professionally. However, rather than playing tennis, Ulrich began playing drums. After publishing an advertisement in ''[[The Recycler]]'', Ulrich met Hetfield and formed Metallica. 
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==Early life==
Ulrich was born on 26 December 1963<ref name=Bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/lars-ulrich--20851827|title=Lars Ulrich|work=[[Biography (TV series)|Biography]]|publisher=[[A&E Networks]]|date=4 April 2014|access-date=30 September 2018|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413112318/https://www.biography.com/people/lars-ulrich--20851827|url-status=dead}}</ref> into an upper-middle-class family<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine|last=Scaggs profile|first=Austin|date=2 September 2004|title=Lars Ulrich profile|magazine=Rolling Stone|issue=956|page=64|publisher=Straight Arrow Publishers|issn=0035-791X}}</ref> in [[Gentofte Municipality|Gentofte]], Denmark;<ref name="rollingstone"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metallica.com/band/band-bio-lars.asp|title=Lars Ulrich profile|publisher=Metallica.com|access-date=4 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162541/http://www.metallica.com/band/band-bio-lars.asp|archive-date=18 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the son of Lone (''née'' Sylvester-Hvid) and tennis player [[Torben Ulrich]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://macgregor-sadolin.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I167430&tree=tree1|title=OneTrees|publisher=Macgregor-sadolin.com|access-date=4 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028083328/http://macgregor-sadolin.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I167430&tree=tree1|archive-date=28 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The family lived at [[Lundevangsvej 12]] in [[Hellerup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ryvangskvarteret.dk/dit-kvarter/det-mondaene-ryvangen/|title=Sag: Vestergade 27|language=Danish|website=ryvangskvarteret.dk|access-date=16 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="BT">{{cite web|url=https://www.bt.dk/samfund/lars-ulrichs-barndomshjem-til-salg-koster-48-millioner-kroner|title=Lars Ulrichs barndomshjem til salg: Koster 48 millioner kroner|language=Danish|website=BT|date=23 April 2024 |access-date=16 June 2024}}</ref> His paternal grandfather was tennis player [[Einer Ulrich]]. His paternal grandmother, Ulla Meyer, was from a Jewish family; as a result, Ulrich's grandfather was persecuted by the [[Nazis]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torbenulrich.com/music/So%20What%20conversation.pdf |title=The Conversation: Lars and Torben Ulrich |publisher=Torbenulrich.com |access-date=4 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014041225/http://www.torbenulrich.com/music/So%20What%20conversation.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2007 }}</ref> Saxophonist [[Dexter Gordon]] was Ulrich's godfather, and he is a childhood friend of musician [[Neneh Cherry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-lars-ulrich-performs-with-his-86-year-old-father-in-copenhagen/ |title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich Performs With His 86 Year Old Father In Copenhagen |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=28 October 2014 |access-date=26 December 2015}}</ref>

In February 1973, Ulrich's father obtained passes for five of his friends to a [[Deep Purple]] concert held in the same [[Copenhagen]] stadium as one of his tennis tournaments. When one of the friends could not go, they gave their ticket to the nine-year-old Lars, who was mesmerized by the performance and bought the band's album ''[[Fireball (album)|Fireball]]'' the next day. The concert and album had a considerable impact on Ulrich, inspiring the start of his music career.

As a result of his newfound interest in music, he received his first drum kit, a [[Ludwig-Musser|Ludwig]], from his grandmother around the age of 12 or 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C4raj_VfJI| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/-C4raj_VfJI| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Lars Ulrich on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"| date=12 March 2007|publisher=YouTube|access-date=4 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ulrich originally intended to follow in his father's footsteps and play tennis, and he moved to [[Newport Beach, California]], in the summer of 1980.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music|title=Metallica|quote= ... emigrated to USA '80 ...}}</ref> Despite being ranked in the top ten tennis players of his age group in Denmark, Ulrich failed to make it into the seven man [[Corona del Mar High School]] tennis team, contributing to his decision to focus on music.<ref>{{cite AV media |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgECubQpcL4 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/ZgECubQpcL4| archive-date=2021-10-30|title= Noel Gallagher: Life After Oasis [FULL INTERVIEW] {{!}} It's Electric! {{!}} Apple Music |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date= 16 May 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the documentary ''[[Anvil! The Story of Anvil]]'', Ulrich states that witnessing a [[Y&T]] show was his defining moment in deciding to become a musician. In 1981, he discovered British heavy metal band [[Diamond Head (English band)|Diamond Head]]. He was excited about the band's style of music after purchasing their debut album ''[[Lightning to the Nations]]'', and traveled from [[San Francisco]] to [[London]] to see the band perform live at the [[Woolwich]] Odeon. Ulrich remains a fan of Diamond Head and would later mix their album ''[[The Best of Diamond Head]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamond-head.net/newsarticles/Page582.jpg |title=Galaway Advertiser, The Week |date=June 2007 |access-date=30 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107202951/http://www.diamond-head.net/newsarticles/Page582.jpg |archive-date=7 November 2011 }}</ref> Upon returning to the U.S., Ulrich placed an advert in a local classifieds newspaper looking for musicians to start a band with him. [[James Hetfield]] replied to the ad, and Metallica was formed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=1 |title=MTV Original TV Shows, Reality TV Shows |website=[[MTV]] |access-date=28 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315095541/http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=1 |archive-date=15 March 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==Career==

=== Metallica ===
Later in 1981, Ulrich met [[James Hetfield]] in [[Downey, California]], and they formed the [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Metallica]] upon Ulrich securing a spot in a compilation album of local metal bands named ''Metal Massacre''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Metallica - Dave Mustaine/Early days| date=10 October 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-oQgpVg4I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/fq-oQgpVg4I| archive-date=2021-10-30|language=en|access-date=2021-03-21}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He got the band name from a friend, Ron Quintana, who was brainstorming names for a heavy metal fanzine he was creating, and Metallica was one of the options, the other being "Metal Mania". Ulrich encouraged him to choose Metal Mania, and used the name Metallica for himself.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/metallicafrayede00croc/page/25|title=Metallica: The Frayed Ends of Metal|last=Crocker|first=Chris|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1993|isbn=978-0312086350|pages=[https://archive.org/details/metallicafrayede00croc/page/25 25–26]|url-access=registration}}</ref>

He became known as a pioneer of fast thrash [[drum beat]]s, featured on many of Metallica's early songs, such as "Metal Militia" from ''[[Kill 'Em All]]'', "Fight Fire with Fire" from ''[[Ride the Lightning]]'', "Battery" and "Damage Inc." from ''[[Master of Puppets]]'' and "Dyers Eve" from ''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]''. He has since been considerably influential due to both the popularity of his band, as well as his drum techniques, such as the [[double bass drum]] in the song "[[One (Metallica song)|One]]" (''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]'') and  "Dyers Eve". Since the release of ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]'', Ulrich adopted a less focused and simplified style of drumming, and reduced his kit from a 9-piece to a 7-piece.

Between 1998 and 2002, Ulrich tried running a record label, the Music Company. The company was a joint venture with Metallica accountant Tim Duffy. It failed to catch on and folded in the spring 2002.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140813003147/http://www.mtv.com/news/1454522/lars-ulrichs-record-label-sees-red-fades-to-black/ "Lars Ulrich's Record Label Sees Red, Fades to Black"], MTV.com, 23 May 2002; retrieved 11 August 2014.</ref> His voice can be heard in the opening seconds of "Leper Messiah" and he also counts to four in his native [[Danish language|Danish]] on the "[[St. Anger (song)|St. Anger]]" music video. To unwind after some gigs, Ulrich listens to jazz.<ref>{{cite web|last=Everitt|first=Matt|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-28015929|title=BBC News – Metallica on Glastonbury: 'The downside is we have to stay sober'|publisher=Bbc.com|date=27 June 2014|access-date=4 August 2014}}</ref>

==== Napster lawsuit ====
{{Main|Metallica v. Napster, Inc.}}
In April 2000, Ulrich became a vocal opponent of [[Napster]] and [[file sharing]] as [[Metallica]] filed a lawsuit against the company for [[copyright infringement]] and [[Racket (crime)|racketeering]]. In July 2000, he testified before the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]] after Metallica's entire catalogue, including the then-unfinished track "[[I Disappear]]" was found to be freely available for download on the service. The case was settled out-of-court, resulting in more than 300,000 Napster users being banned from the service.<ref>{{cite web |author=Shenaz Bagha |title=Napster bans more than 300,000 for downloading Metallica |url=http://www.thefalcononline.com/2000/05/napster-bans-more-than-300000-for-downloading-metallica/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008025804/http://www.thefalcononline.com/2000/05/napster-bans-more-than-300000-for-downloading-metallica/ |archive-date=8 October 2017 |access-date=7 October 2017 |publisher=The Falcon Newspaper}}</ref>

=== Other activities ===
Ulrich has been an activist in support of expanding access to health care for U.S. citizens, with his family working with the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic of San Francisco, California. He raised $32,000 for the group during a celebrity edition of the game show ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blistering Metal News: Lars Ulrich Wins 32,000$ For Charity On "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" |url=http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/1131/tempidx/1/menuid/1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923191936/http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/1131/tempidx/1/menuid/1 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=26 December 2015 |website=Blistering.com}}</ref>

Ulrich made his acting debut in the [[HBO]] original film ''[[Hemingway & Gellhorn]]'', which began filming in March 2011 and was released on 28 May 2012.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2011/03/hbo-builds-cast-for-hemingway-gellhorn-112938/ "HBO Builds Cast For 'Hemingway & Gellhorn'"], Deadline.com, 10 March 2011.</ref> He made a brief cameo appearance as himself in the film ''[[Get Him to the Greek]]'', as the partner of the character Jackie Q.<ref>[http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,6930068,00.html "Metallica's Lars Ulrich has cameo in Get Him to The Greek"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162542/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,6930068,00.html|date=18 October 2015}} ''Artist Direct'', 21 May 2010; retrieved 4 June 2012.</ref> In 2012, Ulrich was the focus of the documentary film ''Mission to Lars''. The film by Kate and Will Spicer concerns their journey with their brother Tom, who lives in a care home in [[Devon]], England and who has [[Fragile X syndrome]], to try to meet Ulrich at one of Metallica's 2009 gigs in California.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mission To Lars |url=http://missiontolars.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616032506/http://missiontolars.com/ |archive-date=16 June 2012 |access-date=24 June 2012 |publisher=Mission To Lars}}</ref>

Having led a campaign for several years to get his longtime favorite band, [[Deep Purple]], inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]], Ulrich delivered the induction speech when the band went into the Hall in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kory Grow |date=8 April 2016 |title=Read Lars Ulrich's Passionate Deep Purple Rock Hall Induction |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/read-lars-ulrichs-passionate-deep-purple-rock-hall-induction-20160408 |access-date=15 April 2015 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> In 2017, Ulrich began hosting a show on [[Apple Music]] called ''It's Electric'', which has featured conversations with [[Joan Jett]], [[Noel Gallagher]], [[Dave Grohl]] and [[Jerry Cantrell]].

== Artistry ==

=== Drumming style ===
[[File:Lars Ulrich Madrid 2009.jpg|thumb|Ulrich in Madrid in 2009]]
Ulrich's drumming style has changed throughout his career. During the 1980s, he was known for his fast, aggressive thrash beats. Unlike most drummers, Ulrich does not have a [[ride cymbal]] in his kit and instead favors the [[China cymbal]]. He said that he does not like the "ding" sound of the former and prefers the loudness of the latter.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pearson |first1=Ash |date=6 November 2020 |title=6 Reasons To Love Lars Ulrich |url=https://www.drumeo.com/beat/6-reasons-to-love-lars-ulrich/ |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=Drumeo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Weems |first1=Will |title=Metallica - Lars on why he doesn't use a ride cymbal [Cut] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHtmG5OOWQU |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=YouTube|date=6 September 2017 }}</ref> Although, during some live performances on the [[M72 World Tour]] (particularly for "[[Until It Sleeps]]"), his drum tech places a ride cymbal next to his China cymbal, and removes it before the next song.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUYxXbi7SPg |title=Metallica: Lars uses Ride Cymbal for Until it Sleeps |date=2024-03-09 |last=@nealskydive |type=Video |access-date=2025-03-24 |via=YouTube.com}}</ref>

Ulrich consciously simplified his style in the 1990s to support the hard rock-oriented songwriting of Metallica's albums during that period.<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2018-02-20 |title=METALLICA's LARS ULRICH Discusses His 'Unique' Drumming Style: 'I've Never Been Very Interested In Ability' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-lars-ulrich-discusses-his-unique-drumming-style-ive-never-been-very-interested-in-ability/ |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2017-12-12 |title=METALLICA's Longtime Producer Explains What Makes LARS ULRICH's Drumming 'So Wonderful And So Unique' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-longtime-producer-what-makes-lars-ulrichs-drumming-so-wonderful-and-so-unique-is-that-hes-reactive-to-the-music/ |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref> He restored some of his earlier thrash metal "signature" techniques for the band's 2008 album ''[[Death Magnetic]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2008-09-20 |title=Death Magnetic |url=https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/reviewed-metallicas-new-album-death-magnetic.98096/?srsltid=AfmBOorN1i1swjeB42CRBFPh5BegEnf3nLRcyIE9DQpxG3P7lF7Pc0SX |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Digit Technology Discussion Forum |language=en-US}}</ref>'', as well as their 2016 album ''[[Hardwired... to Self-Destruct]]'', which both albums saw a more aggressive and experimental drumming style from Ulrich.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Camp |first=Zoe |date=2016-11-22 |title=Hardwired...to Self-Destruct |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22629-hardwiredto-self-destruct/ |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Equipment ===
[[File:Metallica - The O2 - Sunday 22nd October 2017 MetallicaO2221017-91 (37187886834).jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Ulrich in 2017]]
Ulrich endorses [[Tama Drums|Tama]] drums and hardware.<ref>{{cite web |title=TAMA artist – Lars Ulrich |url=https://www.tama.com/usa/artists/detail/98.html |access-date=5 April 2023 |publisher=TAMA Drums |language=en}}</ref> He plays a Starclassic Maple series drum kit, with 10" and 12" rack toms, two 16" floor toms and two 22" bass drums.<ref name="tama2017">{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich Worldwired Kit |url=http://www.tama.com/usa/news/product_news/2017/LU_Kit/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417155014/https://www.tama.com/usa/news/product_news/2017/LU_Kit/index.html |archive-date=17 April 2017 |website=Tama}}</ref> From 2008 to 2016 he used the kit in orange,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich &#124; TAMA Drums |url=http://www.tama.com/artist/tama_artist10.php?artist_id=98&area=3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161305/http://www.tama.com/artist/tama_artist10.php?artist_id=98&area=3 |archive-date=20 September 2018 |access-date=20 September 2018 |publisher=Tama.com}}</ref> and the [[WorldWired Tour]] featured the similar kit with a Deeper Purple finish.<ref>{{cite web |title=TAMA – artist profile – Lars Ulrich |url=http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/artist/tama_artist.php?artist_id=98 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609015236/http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/artist/tama_artist.php?artist_id=98 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |access-date=30 October 2011 |publisher=Tamadrum.co.jp |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="tama2017" /> During the [[M72 World Tour]], the kit is bright yellow with black hardware.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich and his brand new Starclassic Maple kit |url=https://www.instagram.com/officialtamadrums/p/CrnvtjqLkNg/ |date=29 April 2023 |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=Official Tama Drums Instagram channel}}</ref> With Tama, Ulrich has designed his signature 14×6.5" steel [[snare drum]], model LU1465.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich LU1465 |url=https://www.tama.com/usa/products/snare_drums/lu1465.html |access-date=5 April 2023 |publisher=TAMA Drums |language=en}}</ref> Ulrich also endorses [[Avedis Zildjian Company|Zildjian]] cymbals,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich profile |url=http://zildjian.com/Artists/U/Lars-Ulrich |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043839/https://zildjian.com/Artists/U/Lars-Ulrich |archive-date=15 May 2018 |access-date=4 August 2014 |publisher=Zildjian.com}}</ref><ref>[http://configurator.zildjian.com/en-US/products/configurator/default.ad2?artistID=1388]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111061216/http://configurator.zildjian.com/en-US/products/configurator/default.ad2?artistID=1388|date=11 January 2015}}</ref> [[Remo]] drumheads,<ref>{{cite web |date=13 January 2022 |title=Remo – Lars Ulrich |url=https://remo.com/team/member/lars-ulrich/ |access-date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Remo Inc. |language=en}}</ref> and Ahead drumsticks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lars Ulrich Signature Drumsticks |url=https://bigbangdist.com/product/ahead-lars-ulrich-signature-drumsticks/ |access-date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Big Bang Distribution |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ulrich's first marriage was in 1988 to Debbie Jones, a British woman he met on tour,<ref>{{cite web |last=Retter |first=Emily |date=2014-06-28 |title=Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich talks drink, drugs and rock and roll ahead of Glastonbury set |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/metallica-drummer-lars-ulrich-talks-3780401 |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=[[Daily Mirror | The Mirror]] |language=en}}</ref> but they divorced in 1990 during the recordings of the ''Black'' album.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Epstein |first1=Dan |date=12 August 2016 |title=Metallica's Black Album: 10 Things You Didn't Know |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/metallicas-black-album-10-things-you-didnt-know-252307/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> His second marriage was to Skylar Satenstein, an emergency medicine physician, from 1997 to 2004. They had two sons before divorcing.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 October 2012 |title=Lars Ulrich, Jessica Miller: Metallica Drummer Dating American Model |url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2012/10/22/lars-ulrich-jessica-miller |access-date=6 April 2016 |publisher=Noisecreep.com}}</ref> Following his divorce from Satenstein, Ulrich dated Danish actress [[Connie Nielsen]] from 2004 to 2012. They had one child together.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 December 2006 |title=METALLICA Drummer LARS ULRICH, Girlfriend CONNIE NIELSEN Expecting |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=63395 |access-date=18 November 2006 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> He married American fashion model [[Jessica Miller (model)|Jessica Miller]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hartman |first=Graham |date=15 June 2016 |title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich Photographs Model Wife For Metal-Inspired Clothing Line Read More: Metallica's Lars Ulrich Photographs Wife For Clothing Line |url=http://loudwire.com/metallica-lars-ulrich-photographs-model-wife-metal-inspired-clothing-line/ |access-date=17 June 2016 |website=LoudWire}}</ref>

Ulrich's sons Myles and Layne play in a band named Taipei Houston. The duo released their debut album in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Will |date=2022-09-14 |title=Lars Ulrich's sons' band Taipei Houston announce debut album 'Once Bit Never Bored' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lars-ulrichs-sons-band-taipei-houston-announce-debut-album-once-bit-never-bored-3310395 |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

Ulrich is a friend of [[Noel Gallagher]] and his band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] and claimed Gallagher was his inspiration to give up [[cocaine]] in the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |last=McIver |first=Joel |date=28 August 2008 |title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich On Cocaine, Oasis, Megadeth And That Quietus Incident |url=http://thequietus.com/articles/00357-metallicas-lars-ulrich-on-cocaine-oasis-megadeth-and-that-quietus-incident |accessdate=3 March 2017 |work=The Quietus}}</ref> He also has a passion for fine art. In 2002, he sold a painting from his own collection, ''Self Portrait'' by [[Jean-Michel Basquiat]], 1982. With a pre-sale price estimate of $5 million, it ultimately sold for triple that at Christie's Auction House.<ref>{{cite web |date=16 May 2002 |title=METALLICA's LARS ULRICH Sells Art, Gets Unpleasant |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-s-lars-ulrich-sells-art-gets-unpleasant/}}</ref>

In 2009, Ulrich revealed he suffered from [[tinnitus]] due to many years of touring without the use of any auditory protection.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Stephanie |title=Metallica drummer struggles with ringing in ears |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/12/28/tinnitus.metallica.drummer/index.html |access-date=26 August 2022 |website=CNN}}</ref>

Ulrich resides in [[San Francisco]], [[California]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaziri |first=Aidin |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Torben Ulrich, father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, dies at 95 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/metallica-lars-ulrich-torben-18568412.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221193433/https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/metallica-lars-ulrich-torben-18568412.php |archive-date=December 21, 2023 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> He has [[Denmark|Danish]] [[citizenship]] only.<ref name=":0" />

==Awards and honors==
When Ulrich and fellow Metallica members [[James Hetfield]], [[Jason Newsted]], [[Cliff Burton]], [[Kirk Hammett]], and [[Robert Trujillo]] were [[List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees|inducted]] into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2009, Ulrich was the first [[Danish people|Dane]] to receive the honor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich on the Rock Hall – 'Two Words: Deep Purple'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallicas-lars-ulrich-on-the-rock-hall-two-words-deep-purple-20140409|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=26 December 2015|author=Kory Grow|date=9 April 2014}}</ref>

Ulrich was knighted in his native country of Denmark.<ref name="knight">{{cite web |date=17 June 2017 |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-lars-ulrich-on-being-knighted-by-danish-crown-prince-i-am-very-happy-and-proud/ |title=METALLICA's LARS ULRICH On Being Knighted By Danish Crown Prince: 'I Am Very Happy And Proud' |website=Blabbermouth.net }}</ref> He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]] on 26 May 2017 by [[Margrethe II]].<ref name="cbs-knight">{{cite web|date=13 June 2017|title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich Knighted In Native Denmark|url=http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/06/13/metallica-lars-ulrich-denmark-knight/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930022455/http://denver.cbslocal.com/2017/06/13/metallica-lars-ulrich-denmark-knight/|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2017|access-date=14 June 2017|publisher=CBS Denver}}</ref>

==Discography==

=== With Metallica ===
{{Main|Metallica discography}}

* ''[[Kill 'Em All]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Ride the Lightning]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Master of Puppets]]'' (1986)
* ''[[...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice for All]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Metallica (album)|Metallica]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Load (album)|Load]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Reload (Metallica album)|Reload]]'' (1997)
* ''[[St. Anger]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Death Magnetic]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Hardwired... to Self-Destruct]]'' (2016)
* ''[[72 Seasons]]'' (2023)

=== Guest appearances ===
* [[Mercyful Fate]] – ''[[In the Shadows (album)|In the Shadows]]'' (guest on the bonus track "Return of the Vampire ... 1993")
* [[Ludwig Göransson|Ludwig Görannson]] - [[Sinners (soundtrack)|''Sinners (Original Motion Picture Score)'']] (guest on the song “Bury That Guitar”)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1998–2001
| ''[[Behind the Music]]''
| Himself
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Metallica: Some Kind of Monster]]''
| Himself
|Documentary
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Dave the Barbarian]]''
| Jett (voice)
| Animated series
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Get Him to the Greek]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Hemingway & Gellhorn]]''
| [[Joris Ivens]]
| [[HBO]] original film
|-
| 2012
| ''Mission to Lars''
| Himself
| Documentary film
|-
| 2013
| ''Behind The Music: Remastered''
| Himself
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Metallica: Through the Never]]''
| Himself
| 
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Radio Dreams]]''
| Himself
| 
|}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{notelist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book|author=Steffan Chirazi and Metallica|title=So What!: The Good, the Mad, and the Ugly| publisher=Broadway|year=2004|isbn=978-0-7679-1881-7}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080918022318/http://www.vdrums.es/2008/08/11/and-justice-for-all/ ''...And Justice for All'' Kit for Roland Vdrums TD12]
* {{cite web|title=Lars Ulrich's biography|work=Metallica.com|url=http://www.metallica.com/band/band-bio-lars.asp|access-date=19 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018162541/http://www.metallica.com/band/band-bio-lars.asp|archive-date=18 October 2015|url-status=dead}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060517125244/http://www.themusicedge.com/moxie/gear/gearcandy/lars-ulrich-of-metallica.shtml Lars Ulrich's kit setup], themusicedge.com
* [http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Lars_Ulrich.html Lars Ulrich profile], Drummerworld.com 
* [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E2D91E30F931A25756C0A9649C8B63&scp=2&sq=lars%20ulrich&st=cse ''The New York Times'' article about Ulrich's art collection], nytimes.com
* [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090710004006/http://www.fuse.tv/ontv/shows/rock-hall/ ''Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame: Metallica''], Fuse.tv 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101210174246/http://ripitup.co.nz/contentitem/video-exclusive-interview-with-lars-ulrich-of-metallica/1472 Video Interview In New Zealand], ripitup.co.nz
* {{C-SPAN|84782}}
* {{Charlie Rose view|3028}}
* {{IMDb name|0005515}}
* {{cite web|title=Lars Ulrich's ''St Anger'' Tour Setup| work=Tamadrum.co.jp|url=http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/artists/setup/larsulrich.html|access-date=19 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104153727/http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/artists/setup/larsulrich.html|archive-date=4 January 2006}}
* {{cite web|title=Lars Ulrich's ''Load''/''ReLoad''/''Garage Inc.''/''S&M'' Tour Setup|work=Tama.com|url=http://www.tama.com/artists/artist.asp?ID=83|access-date=19 February 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216150705/http://www.tama.com/artists/artist.asp?ID=83|archive-date=16 February 2006}}
* {{cite web|title=Napster bans more than 300,000 for downloading Metallica|url=http://www.thefalcononline.com/2000/05/napster-bans-more-than-300000-for-downloading-metallica/|work=thefalcononline.com|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008025804/http://www.thefalcononline.com/2000/05/napster-bans-more-than-300000-for-downloading-metallica/|archive-date=8 October 2017|url-status=dead}}

{{Metallica}}
{{2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulrich, Lars}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:Danish art collectors]]
[[Category:Danish emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Danish expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Danish heavy metal drummers]]
[[Category:Danish people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Danish people of German descent]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Metallica members]]
[[Category:People from Gentofte Municipality]]
[[Category:Thrash metal musicians]]