Justin Bieber’s vocal cover of the guitar solo in Metallica’s 1984 classic “Fade to Black” may not have whet some music critics’ juices, but as far as the rockers are concerned — the Biebs is alright and they are “Beliebers.”
The surprising but nicely done admission came during the band’s recent interview with Q magazine [via Kerrang].
Asked to comment on the Canadian’s recent cover of “Fade to Black” — seen in a brief backstage video posted by the teen singer earlier this year. It showed him singing the guitar solo and playing air guitar while accompanied by his Believe tour musical director, Dan Kanter — Metallica came out swinging, in a good way.
Frontman, co-writer, and band co-founder James Hetfield told Q, “Are we Beliebers? Yes.”
Adding an insightful note, drummer Lars Ulrich asked,
“Is it possible to have respect for him without being a Belieber?”
Answering his own question, he said, “I think the kid’s really talented and obviously to go through what he’s going through at that early age must be a mindf_k.”
Ulrich added, “So the fact that he still goes out there and does it, I admire that and I think he’s super talented. So I guess I am kind of a Belieber. If he likes ‘One’, and Liam Gallagher likes him, OK, there you go.”
Bassist Robert Trujillo gave a more muted response while alluding to Bieber’s drama-filled year so far. “As long as he stays out of trouble, I’ll be a Belieber,” he said.
Bieber previously named “Fade to Black” and “One” as his “jams” in a 2012 GQ profile , describing them as “edgy and emotional with those instruments and electric guitars and stuff.”
Back in March, Metallica’s manager Peter Mensch was quoted by UK newspaper The Sun offering comments about Bieber, just days after he was accused of battery by one of his Calabasas, Calif., neighbors.
Mensch’s remarked he would “take Bieber to the woodshed and spank him,” adding ,”His manager Scooter Braun is scared sh**less. I don’t know what Bieber’s problem is. His career is over in three years anyway.”
Los Angeles prosecutors have since declined to prosecute the teen star for battery.
Bieber has seemingly also moved on.
The singer recently posted a “wake-up call” video about his eye-opening experience in Guatemala helping to build a school with Pencils of Promise, a non-profit, educational organization in an effort funded in part by monies raised from Believe tour ticket sales.
“I feel like they helped me as much as I helped them. You can make a huge difference in this world if you just give to others. It is a feeling like no other,” the 19-year-old wrote in the video’s caption.