Metallica introduced their new bassist, Robert Trujillo (formerly of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne ), at four shows exclusively for members of the band's fan club in May 2003. The performances took place at the Fillmore in San Francisco. In addition to introducing the new member, the shows also promoted the album St. Anger , which would be released a few weeks later.
Trujillo recounted in an interview with Nikki Blakk of 107.7 The Bone , the difficulties of the early performances (via blabbermouth.net ): “What I remember most was not knowing what the setlist would be each night. I didn't know if it was on purpose. Or if we were overwhelmed. Or if Lars ( Ulrich , Metallica's drummer, responsible for putting together the setlist) was so busy that he couldn't tell me exactly what we were going to play. So I would memorize songs like 'Phantom Lord' on the spot. And they hadn't played 'Phantom Lord' in a long time. So there was all this energy around me and my head was spinning with the pressure of the show. The pressure of being the new bassist. But also the pressure of having to learn a song early in the afternoon on the day we were going to play it.”
Robert Trujillo continued: “METALLICA’s songs are challenging, but I believe that at the same time we were playing (at the legendary) San Quentin . 'Welcome to your new existence.' You just need to learn, adapt, and do your best. And that’s how at that Fillmore I started to push myself, and a few years later I thought, 'I’m going to push myself to learn songs that we’re not even playing and that aren’t even on the radar. I’m going to learn 'Orion.' I just don’t like being on edge, having to learn songs during the day or something like that, so I found a way to catch up.”
The pressure on Robert Trujillo began during the audition with the band.
In an interview a few years ago, Robert described his selection process to replace bassist Jason Newsted , who had been fired years earlier. “It was a very surreal day for me. But when you get a gig like that, it’s so… strange. Really, strange is the word. Because I remember going there. I was late.”
Trujillo says he felt a little out of place. “The bass on the album had already been recorded by producer Bob Rock . Along with guitarist Kirk Hammett , the producer tried to make me feel comfortable. At the end of the day, Lars Ulrich called me to have some drinks in the Bay Area. We finished at Lars's house having a few more cocktails, and I slept there. The next morning, just four hours later, Lars was on the treadmill sober. And I had a terrible hangover.”
The hangover on the day of the audition.
He continued: “It was when (the members of Metallica) were going through this kind of therapy, (with) this guy, Phil Towle , who was… what do they call it? A sort of life coach, a sort of motivator. At the time, I think it was good for the band. But I wasn’t used to it. Here I am with a terrible headache. James ( Hetfield ) just went through all that, and of course, he’s sober, and the last person he wants to see near his band is a drunk Mexican. That would be me.”
The bassist concludes the story: “So, I’m sitting at the table with a terrible headache, completely hungover. And I think, ‘Lars did this to me because he was testing me to see if I could go out with him.’ It was a test. It had to be. He’s a Viking, seriously. I kept splashing water on my face, slapping myself, and saying, ‘Oh, man, you have to… Hang in there.’ Because my real instinct was to say, ‘I can’t do this right now, guys, I don’t feel well, I really need some time off.’”
After this post-hangover moment of reflection, Trujillo began to prepare his bass and equalize the amplifier for the listening session. The bassist suggested "Battery," as seen in the documentary Some Kind of Monster . The rest is history.
READ ALSO : Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett of Metallica talk about the beginning of their careers
