CIGAR Aficionado magazine isn’t on the required reading list of many rock journalists.
So hats off to Tyler Golson of Far Out magazine (if he was indeed first – it’s hard to tell for sure) for buying a copy when he saw Metallica’s James Hetfield on the cover.
Most of the interview was about – you guessed it, Einstein – cigars.
But Tyler did find a few sentences of quotes which have since been picked up by every rock website in the world (even, belatedly, us).
“I know individually we’re all really average players, but when you put us together something happens,” Hetfield said.
“Something really happens…. Getting up and jamming with people is like a nightmare for me.”
Kirk Hammett, in particular, might take umbrage to the comments but they’re nonetheless humble and self-effacing enough to endear Hetfield to fans who already worship him.
The 59-year-old added: “I feel so comfortable up there, it’s so weird. Sitting down one-on-one with someone is a lot more anxiety ridden than standing up in front of 10,000 people, 20,000 people.”
There’s nothing heroic of investigative about nicking quotes from someone else’s interview.
But given the mileage this yarn has received, hopefully Tyler was reimbursed for the magazine.
