So Fresh and So Clean

At one point during a mid-October phone interview Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo touched on the subject of potty training.

That seems like one of the most unlikely topics to ever come up when discussing Metallica, the world’s biggest and baddest metal band, a group famous for its snarling-faced photos and toughness.

 But actually, the subject related directly to one of the major events that has defined life for the four members of Metallica since the 2003 release of the CD, “St. Anger.” This period has seen the band rebound from the brink of a breakup, make perhaps its best CD in a decade and a half, and reclaim its position as the undisputed kings of metal.

Trujillo (who previously was a member of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne’s band) replaced bassist Jason Newsted in Metallica in 2003, at the tail end of a tumultuous period that coincided with the making of “St. Anger.”

During that project, the band had gave filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky full access to the group’s activities, initially thinking the project would produce a making-of-the-album video for what became “St. Anger.” Instead Berlinger and Sinofsky began documenting the near-disintigration of Metallica.

Newsted’s departure caused Metallica’s long-time members James Hetfield (vocals/guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums) and Kirk Hammet (guitar) to question why they had driven the bassist from the band and take a hard look at themselves and their behavior toward each other.

The situation prompted the band to enter group therapy with specialist Phil Towle. Part way into that process, Hetfield decided to confront his long-standing drinking habit, as well as some deep-seated personal issues, and went into rehab.

But what was initially expected to be a five-week stay grew into the better part of a year. During that time Hetfield stayed out of touch with Ulrich and Hammet, and Hetfield’s extended absence caused his bandmates to seriously fear that the band was over.

Hetfield, of course, eventually finished rehab and returned to the band, but with a determination to stay sober and a commitment to put his family (he’s married and a father of three) first in his life.

It was against this backdrop that work resumed on “St. Anger,” with producer Bob Rock filling in on bass.

Once “St. Anger” was finished, Trujillo replaced Newsted, and he has watched Metallica undergo a rebirth that continues even with the recent release of the band’s powerful new CD, “Death Magnetic.”

And this gets us back to the subject of potty training.

In the five years since “St. Anger,” life has changed for the better with all four members of the band. And these days, Hetfield isn’t the only one putting family ahead of Metallica.

“We’ve grown so much,” Trujillo said. “Obviously it’s been five years and we’ve been on the road a lot together. We all have families now. In the last five years, Kirk had two children, I’ve had two children, Lars has had a child. So there have been five kids born. It’s a great thing when everybody can be on the same page just because of the family and there’s a connection. If I have a question about potty training, at least I know two guys I can go to for advice. It’s great.”

Trujillo said he is excited to return to the road, and Metallica figures to tour well into next year. The shows will be done in the round – a setting that puts the band closer to the crowds in the arenas it will play – and Trujillo said the song sets could find Metallica not only featuring “Death Magnetic,” but dusting off early songs that haven’t been played live by the band in many years.

“It’s going to be fresh and it’s going to be exciting,” Trujillo said of the shows. “We’re thinking of new fans, too. We want for the new blood to go out there and experience a Metallica show at its fullest and not hold too much back there. So we just want to create a really great evening for everybody.”

Dead Zeppelin?

Robert Plant, lead singer for legendary rock act Led Zeppelin, says he won’t be going on the road with ANYbody in the next couple of years, including Led Zeppelin.

Nevertheless, that won’t stop the other surviving members of the band to go ahead with their world tour plans. According to Billboard magazine,  the singer first in line to replace Plant is Myles Kennedy, who has most recently led the band Alter Bridge, which features all of the non-singing members of Creed.

Plant participated in a one-off reunion in 2007 in London, but he has refused to hit the road on a major tour with Zeppelin.

All 5 Jacksons to perform

Jermaine Jackson has confirmed that the Jackson 5 will reunite for a tour and to release new material in 2009.

All of the members – yes, including the white guy –

Have agreed to the tour, and have been working on new material. In addition, sister Janet Jackson will open some of the dates with a solo show.

U2 Tower put on hold

Irish rockers U2 wil have to wait a little longer for their new studio to be built. Construction on the “U2 Tower” – a $250 million skyscraper featuring an egg-shaped recording studio designed for U2 – has been suspended.

The eco-friendly structure designed by British architect Norman Foster was to measure nearly 400 feet, making it Dublin’s tallest building. It was to include million-dollar luxury apartments, a viewing platform for the public, solar paneling and wind turbines.

The reason: The world’s economic woes. However, the project has not been completely scraped, and Dublin officials say they still want to see the tower built.

What say you, Bono?

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”