In the realm of metal music, Lars Ulrich, the drummer of the iconic band Metallica, stands as a towering figure. His distinct drumming style and choice of drum covers have significantly influenced the sound and visual presentation of the band. This article aims to provide a detailed introduction to the drum covers commonly used by Lars Ulrich, highlighting their characteristics, evolution, and significance within the context of metal music.
Early Years and Initial Equipment
Lars Ulrich’s journey with drums began with a set gifted to him by his grandmother. This was a vintage Ludwig drum set, complemented by Yamaha hardware such as stands and pedals. This set played a pivotal role in his early years, particularly during Metallica’s underground beginnings and the recording of their debut album, Kill ‘Em All. However, tragedy struck in 1984 when this sentimental drum set was stolen in Boston.
Despite this loss, Lars continued to push forward, using different drum sets for various tours and recordings. During the Kill ‘Em All tour, he transitioned to using Tama Camco series drums, specifically a silver-white set. The success of the album led to Tama sponsoring Lars, and he began using Tama Imperial Star drums with a mahogany shell and full Tama hardware for subsequent tours. This nine-piece set included toms of various sizes (12, 13, 14, 16 inches), two 18-inch floor toms, double bass drums, and a snare drum. Additionally, Lars occasionally incorporated 8-inch and 10-inch rocket toms to enrich his drum sound.
Evolution of Drum Sets
As Metallica’s music evolved, so did Lars’ drum setups. For the recordings and tours of Ride the Lightning and The Master of Puppets, Lars adopted the Tama Super Star series drums and Tama full-line hardware. Notably, during these recordings, he used a Ludwig metal-cavity snare drum instead of a Tama one. The Super Star series featured the same number of drum pieces as the Imperial Star, but with deeper tom shells. A unique aspect of these drums was that the smaller toms had only a striking side and no resonant side, allowing microphones to be placed directly inside the drum cavity.
For the The Master of Puppets tour and the recording of the EP Garage Days Re-Revisited, Lars reverted to the Imperial Star series but with a significant upgrade: the shells were now fully mahogany, and the exterior was coated with a mirror chrome finish, giving the set a powerful and beautiful appearance, perfectly aligning with Metallica’s status as underground metal music royalty.
Tama Grand Star and Beyond
During the recording of the album and Justice for All, Lars switched to the Tama Grand Star II series drums, a set made entirely of birch wood. This set remained with him until the recording of Metallica’s 1991 self-titled black album. Notably, this was a signature set tailored by Tama for Lars, making him the first Tama endorser to have his own signature drum set. The set included two 24×16 bass drums, toms of various sizes (10, 12, 14, 16 inches), two 18×16 floor toms, and a 14×6.5 Brass Bell snare drum (sometimes replaced with a 14×8 birch snare).
For the recording of the black album, Lars employed a hybrid setup: Gretsch drums for the bass and floor toms, while the smaller toms and snare were Tama Starclassic series. Following the album’s release, he transitioned to the Tama Art Star II series drums, a full maple set regarded as one of Tama’s best. This set, featuring a piano-white finish, was launched as a Lars signature nine-piece set in 1992.
Continuation and Innovation
In the subsequent albums Load and Reload, Lars used Tama’s newly introduced Starclassic Maple series drums. Initially, he opted for a shiny silver set, which he later changed to a shiny green one. Both sets were nearly identical in size, featuring 22×16 double bass drums, toms of various sizes (10, 12, 14, 16 inches), a 14×6.5 Brass Bell snare drum, and two floor toms of different configurations. The hardware remained Tama full-line.
Cymbal Preferences
Apart from his drum sets, Lars is also known for his cymbal preferences. A staunch advocate of Zildjian cymbals, he favors the Z and A series, known for their high polish and suitability for metal music. His typical setup includes double hi-hats, multiple crashes of various sizes, a ride cymbal, and one or two china cymbals. Occasionally, he also uses an A series splash cymbal. Besides Zildjian, Lars has also been seen using Sabian cymbals, such as a pair of 15-inch Rock Hats during the recording of the black album.
Limited Edition and Signature Drums
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s black album, Tama released a limited edition signature snare drum by Lars Ulrich. This drum, featuring a matte black finish, a 3mm steel thick cavity, and a special “black album” emblem, is one of only 300 produced worldwide. The drum also includes a REMO® Black Suede Ambassador drumhead with a Metallica print, signed by Lars himself.
Furthermore, in 2024, marking the 40th anniversary of Lars’ collaboration with Tama, the company released a limited edition signature drum set. Only 72 sets were produced globally, identical to the set used during Lars’ “72 Seasons” tour. These sets feature Starclassic maple shells, a custom yellow finish, and custom black hardware. Each set includes a handwritten certificate and a signature sticker inside each bass drum.
Conclusion
Lars Ulrich’s choice of drum covers has been instrumental in shaping the sound and visual identity of Metallica. From his vintage Ludwig set to the cutting-edge Tama drum sets, Lars has consistently evolved his drumming setup to match the band’s musical evolution. His preference for Tama drums, particularly the Grand Star, Art Star, and Starclassic series, has not only provided him with the necessary sound quality but has also become a symbol of his musical journey.Moreover, Lars’ use of Zildjian cymbals has further defined his unique drumming style, complementing the heavy, distorted guitar riffs and powerful rhythmic patterns that are synonymous with Metallica. The limited edition signature drums released by Tama in honor of various milestones, such as the 30th anniversary of the black album and the 40th anniversary of Lars’ collaboration with Tama, not only celebrate his contributions but also offer collectors a chance to own a piece of metal music history.
