Metallica find it "harder" to be in a band now than when they started out.
The ‘Enter Sandman’ hitmakers formed in 1981 and drummer Lars Ulrich found it easier to be part of a "collective" when he was younger as he and his bandmates shared the same values.
He explained: "It’s harder to be part of a collective when you’re older.
"When you’re 22, you all wear the same clothes, drink the same beer, do the same crazy things.
"Then, all of a sudden, you’re in your 30s and 40s and everything has changed."
Lars’ bandmate James Hetfield admits the group have a love/hate relationship but will always regard one another as "brothers".
He said: "Those guys know my story and I know their story.
"We love each other and we hate each other. But we’re brothers."
Though frontman James admits some Metallica fans don’t want the band to get old, he insists they are "embracing" ageing.
He told Q magazine: "They want to keep you in a glass case. But we’re embracing age, letting the hair go grey, keeping mind and spirit together."
The 53-year-old rocker is bemused why it has taken Metallica eight years to record and release new album ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ because he loves "connecting" with people through his music.
He said: "I felt like a loner my whole life so connecting with people is what I want to do.
"This is great – playing people some new Metallica music. Why do we torture ourselves about this stuff? Why did we take eight years?"
And James is happy to show his "vulnerable" side in his music – because it is "free therapy".
He said: "I’m not afraid to let that vulnerable side be looked at. As an artist, it’s a great way to get free therapy."
Metallica find band life harder now
