“It was what music needed”: James Hetfield picks his favourite Nirvana song
Metallica‘s James Hetfield has always had a knack for going against the grain when it’s least expected. While this can often backfire with some cursing the existence of two records in particular, other times, challenging the mainstream becomes a necessary means to an end. It is also what has enabled them to become thrash metal pioneers and hard rock pariahs without losing sight of basic accessibility.
This calibre of confidence is key for Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, especially when there’s always the additional risk of disappointing large portions of their audience. And while the polarisation that followed Load and Reload is the kind that will never cease, moments of uncertainty and risk-taking in the studio are a part of Metallica’s fabric, even if it sometimes feels too fickle to warrant a productive environment.
In fact, this is something Ulrich has often teased about, suggesting that the studio environment holds a delicate underlayer where the likelihood of going wrong always lingers, though manifested in ways that can be conducive to greater productivity when done right. However, for a band like Metallica, evolution has always been the key to longevity, no matter how big the risk of failure.
At the same time, anyone emerging as pioneers of the thrash metal scene would always face some level of pushback somewhere down the line, especially as the band sought to veer more towards commercial tropes to ensure an easier and more assured progression without overly pandering to the mainstream. And, while some take umbrage with The Black Album for this reason alone, the success of doing so ultimately outweighed the negativity of the disgruntled few.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that Hetfield and Ulrich are both endeared to artists who achieve the same feat, especially after first becoming established in a specific genre or space before breaking out into larger circles. In Hetfield’s view, Nirvana weren’t just industry disruptors; they were also unapologetically confident in their ability to go against what others were doing, which, in turn, shaped the course of music at the time.
During an interview with Rolling Stone, Hetfield praised the importance of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, arguing that it was an essential track during a time when music was becoming increasingly stale. “When all that 80s hair metal was getting overproduced, Nirvana came along with this thrashy garage sound and a huge hook,” he said, adding, “It was what music needed.”
Ulrich also shares this sentiment, saying in 2019 that he believed ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was the best song of the last 25 years. Beyond their undeniable ability as a band, the pair also took a liking to Kurt Cobain’s establishment of a unique guitar playing style without being overly technical, proving that sounds didn’t have to seem definitively nuanced to make a difference on a grander scale.
