Metallica at Webster Hall
Metallica at Webster Hall in 2016 (more by P Squared)

Metallica update: James narrating porn doc, Lars disses modern music, band playing Grammys

Metallica have been in the news non-stop since the release of last year’s Hardwired… To Self-Destruct, whether it’s because they’ve got their own emojis or because they played “Enter Sandman” with toy instruments. The latest update is that James Hetfield is narrating a new documentary on porn addiction.

The doc is called Addicted To Porn: Chasing The Cardboard Butterfly, and it was directed by Justin Hunt, who Hetfield who also worked with for 2012’s Absent, a documentary on fatherlessness. Here’s ATP‘s synopsis:

Like it or not, porn is here and it is harmful. In this controversial film, award-winning filmmaker Justin Hunt dissects the impact of pornography on societies around the globe, from how it affects the brain of the individual, to how modern technology leads to greater exposure to youth, to watching it literally tear a family apart. In what may well be one of the most devastating issues in modern culture, this film will break down the damage that porn is doing to us a human race and leave you thinking that it’s clearly time that we start taking porn addiction a bit more seriously.

The trailer is out now (though James’ voice isn’t in it), and you can watch that below. You can check out upcoming screenings here.

In other ‘Tallica news, Lars Ulrich is the latest musician to partake in Noisey’s First Date series, and while on a date with Noisey writer Kim Taylor Bennett, he talked about modern music and dropped this bomb: “Music is not terribly inspiring anymore unfortunately.” He did ride for Kvelertak and The Sword though:

You said you don’t find music very inspiring… but do you still find playing in Metallica inspiring?

Ten years ago or 30 years ago, it was different. Like, “Oh my god Guns N’ Roses, oh my God who are these Nirvana guys! Oasis!” You were hearing about it, and you wanted to meet them. Nowadays, there aren’t any bands that have had that impact on me. The last time where I was like, “Holy fuck! This really inspires me,” was this band called Sword, from Austin, Texas. Stoner rock, kind of a modern Black Sabbath. Super cool. They showed up seven or eight years ago, and I just had to bring these guys on tour. There is a Norwegian band called Kvelertak. These bands are few and far between nowadays. This is not a black and white statement. I know more about film than I do about music because I follow it more. That doesn’t mean if something awesome came and slapped me in the face then I wouldn’t embrace it, it just shows up less and less.

Lars also talks about Mission to Lars, Some Kind of Monster, his kids, his dating history, and more. You can read the rest here.

Metallica were also announced as performers for the 2017 Grammy Awards Ceremony, which goes down on February 12 at the Staples Center in LA. Metallica weren’t nominated for a metal category, but “Hardwired” was nominated for Best Rock Song. They’re up against David Bowie, Radiohead, Twenty One Pilots and Highly Suspect (luckily Jethro Tull won’t be there to sweep them this time).

It’ll be Metallica’s first time performing at the Grammys since collaborating with Lang Lang in 2014. They’re promising “something very unique and special planned for this celebratory night” but that’s all we know so far.

Metallica have one US live date announced for 2017 so far, the Rock on the Range festival in Ohio this May. All other dates are international and those are listed here.