"Hulk Hogan openly expresses his intention to leave wrestling if given the chance, promoting discussion about his unexpected tryout for Metallica, a renowned heavy metal band."
Hulk Hogan's Unsuccessful Attempts to Join Metallica
Hulk Hogan, the legendary professional wrestler, had a surprising ambition outside the ring – joining the heavy metal band Metallica. In various interviews over the years, Hogan claimed that he tried to join the band, both in the 1980s and around 2001, when the position of bassist became vacant following Jason Newsted's exit.
In a 2009 interview, Hogan asserted that he reached out to Metallica when they were looking for a new bassist, sending tapes and letters. However, he never received a response. In a separate interview in 2012, Hogan claimed to be friends with Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich, and that Lars asked him to play bass for Metallica in their early days, but it "didn't work out."
However, both Lars Ulrich and Metallica frontman James Hetfield have denied ever having met Hogan or that he ever auditioned for them. Lars reportedly responded "Hulk who?" when asked about Hogan's claim, and dismissed it as untrue. Hogan himself later admitted he never officially auditioned but that he did try to contact Metallica several times without success.
Despite Hogan's claims, it seems that Metallica truly have no recollection of Hogan being in the frame to join them. This strange little mythical corner in Metallica's story was resurrected decades later when Hogan made a claim in a 2014 interview with Vice that he sent a tape of himself playing to Metallica's management.
Hulk Hogan's attempts to join Metallica, whether successful or not, remain a part of his complex and controversial legacy. Known for his charismatic and influential role in professional wrestling history, Hogan helped establish the WWF (now WWE) and WCW as pro wrestling powerhouses in the 80s and 90s. However, towards the end of his career, Hogan became a controversial figure due to a leaked sex tape featuring racist remarks and aggressive support for Donald Trump.
In his earlier years, Hulk Hogan was a session musician before he became a wrestler. He spent time playing bass in local bands in Tampa Bay, Florida in the 1970s. One of the local bands he played in, Ruckus, gained a sniff of popularity in the local rock scene.
In a more recent interview with the Full Send Podcast in 2023, Hogan maintained his claim of trying to join Metallica. Lars Ulrich appeared on The Howard Stern show to address Hogan's claims about joining Metallica, but the band members have consistently met them with disbelief. James Hetfield was shown a photoshopped image of Metallica with Hulk Hogan and responded with disbelief, stating he has no recollection of Hulk Hogan trying to join the band.
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, died on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71. His legacy in professional wrestling is undeniable, but his claims of joining Metallica will continue to be a topic of discussion among fans.
- Despite Hulk Hogan's persistent claims, Metallica's members have consistently denied knowing him or him ever auditioning for the band.
- Hulk Hogan, the professional wrestler, had an ambition to join the heavy metal band Metallica, both in the 1980s and around 2001.
- In an attempt to join Metallica, Hulk Hogan sent tapes and letters to the band when they were looking for a new bassist in 2009.
- Hulk Hogan claimed that Metallica's drummer, Lars Ulrich, asked him to play bass for Metallica in their early days, but it "didn't work out."
- In a local band in Tampa Bay, Florida during the 1970s, Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, gained a bit of popularity in the rock scene while playing bass.
- Hulk Hogan's attempts to join Metallica, whether successful or not, remain a part of his complex and controversial legacy.
- Hulk Hogan died on Thursday, July 24, at the age of 71, leaving behind a controversial legacy in professional wrestling and unresolved claims about joining Metallica.
- Lars Ulrich appeared on The Howard Stern show to address Hogan's claims about joining Metallica, but the band members' recollections of the event remain different.
