On the April 24 installment of SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo discussed the band’s former bassists, Jason Newsted and late Cliff Burton.
“It’s interesting because between Jason and Cliff, they’re very different players, and I think that’s great,” Trujillo said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “I love the fact that we’re all different, we all have our thing that we bring to the band. And, obviously, with Cliff, he was such an incredible musician. I mean, he was really a composer when it came to the instrument, in the same way that sort of a Jaco Pastorius or Stanley Clarke would’ve been a composer.
“They’re thinking about the song, but they’re also thinking about the voice of the instrument within the song and how to present it. And sometimes that’s utilizing distortion or overdrive or the wah pedal and being melodic with it. And I love that; that’s what I love about [Cliff]. And then you’ve got Jason who was really keeping it and holding it down, keeping it solid — a lot more simple, but in a good way. Definitely not in a pedestrian way; I would never say that. I think it’s just really solid.”
“What I’ve learned over the years from everyone that I’ve ever worked with, whether it’s METALLICA or playing in Ozzy‘s band and recording with Ozzy and working with Jerry Cantrell [ALICE IN CHAINS], which I’ve done on and off over the years, I just learned from every situation,” he continued. “Jerry, for instance, is an incredible bass player. He would never cop to it, but this guy, as a composer, I’m saying, where he positions the notes within a song and the dynamic sort of value of that note in the simplicity is incredible.
“If you listen to a song like [ALICE IN CHAINS‘] ‘Rooster’, you can hear the bass that has a personality within the song and it resonates and it’s got space. But he’s really great at taking the bass and using it in a simple form, but also having its presence be known in a very dynamic way, which lends itself to the song. That’s why you always hear bass in ALICE songs or Jerry‘s music. I recorded with Jerry recently, and it’s just always a blessing and an incredible experience. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it’s special because he’s such an amazing composer.
“And I just feel blessed with any situation I’ve been able to record in and be a part of. The songwriting is just always at the highest level, and working with Lars [Ulrich], James [Hetfield] and Kirk [Hammett], for 21 years, has been an incredible experience because they’re composers. And that’s special, when you can be in a band and work with people that love the art of songwriting.”
Trujillo gained fame as a member of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and later INFECTIOUS GROOVES before joining METALLICA in 2003. Trujillo‘s distinctive playing style blends funk, metal, and Latin influences, contributing to the band’s dynamic sound. Beyond his musical prowess, he’s revered for his humility and dedication to his craft. Trujillo‘s legacy extends beyond his bass lines, inspiring countless musicians worldwide with his passion and perseverance.
