Did Metallica kick Lars out?

There have been rumors circulating online that Metallica, the legendary heavy metal band, has decided to part ways with their drummer Lars Ulrich. The speculation started after a video surfaced on YouTube showing Ulrich being escorted out of a recording studio by security guards, while the rest of the band members looked on in silence.

The video has since been deleted, but not before it sparked a frenzy of comments and reactions from fans and critics alike. So, did Metallica really kick Lars out? The answer is no. According to a statement released by the band’s official website, the video was part of a prank that they pulled on Ulrich for his birthday. The statement reads:

“We want to clear up any confusion that may have arisen from a video that was posted on YouTube yesterday. The video was a joke that we played on Lars for his 60th birthday, which was on December 26th. We hired some actors to pretend to be security guards and escort him out of the studio, while we pretended to be angry and disappointed. It was all in good fun and Lars was in on it from the start. He even helped us plan the whole thing. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused to our fans, friends, and family. Lars is still very much a part of Metallica and we love him dearly. Happy belated birthday, Lars!”

The statement was accompanied by a photo of the band posing with Ulrich and a cake that read “Happy Birthday, You’re Fired”. The photo also showed Ulrich holding a sign that said “I’m sorry, I suck”.

The prank was apparently inspired by a similar one that the band pulled on their former bassist Jason Newsted in 2001, when they pretended to fire him during a live show in San Francisco. Newsted, who left the band in 2001 for personal reasons, later said that he found the prank hilarious and that he had no hard feelings towards his former bandmates.

Metallica fans can rest assured that Ulrich is still rocking the drums for the band, and that they are working on their eleventh studio album, which is expected to be released later this year. The band has also announced a world tour for 2024, which will include stops in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia.