JEORDIE WHITE TALKS METALLICA

Jeordie White recalls his one-of-a-kind Metallica audition experience.

Former Marilyn Manson bass player Twiggy Ramirez, aka Jeordie White, was among those that auditioned for the Metallica bass job nearly five years ago. The position was left open due to Jason Newsted’s departure due to both physical and personal reasons. White joined Pepper Keenan, Eric Avery, and Nine Inch Nails sideman Danny Lohner among others for the audition.

Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo won the job, but White was honored just to get the call from Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett.

“To grow up and have my own success in music and become friends with those guys and to have them call me to come audition, it seemed natural. It didn’t seem that crazy, but the kid in me was completely freaked out. To show up, do that, and actually play ‘Master Of Puppets’ with…to have James Hetfield across the room was scary.”

White recalled the audition.

“It was awesome. It was… I, when I was 16 or however old the hell I was, to have Ride the Lightning and when Master Of Puppets came out. That record totally floored me. It pretty much defined my adolescence. It just, it made me want to take…get my guitar out of my room and play on stage. It really made me want to learn how to play it. The album cover, the pictures on the back, the music, just everything, they lyrics. I just would study that album. It’s probably the best heavy metal album of all time — I don’t know about the best album of all time but definitely the best metal album of all time.”

In hindsight White, who is a sideman in Nine Inch Nails and principal collaborator for Goon Moon, said that in hindsight he’s glad he didn’t get the gig.

“You know I’m kind of relieved that that didn’t happen. It would have been awesome to be in Metallica, but I’m relieved it didn’t happen because it’s just… It would be… I don’t know if I’d want to be married to something like that. The money would be good, but it’d be a little intense… a little.”

Metallica is finishing up work on their new album, and White continues to tour with Trent Reznor and company. He’s looking to book some dates with Goon Moon with creative partner Chris Goss.