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I didn't realize Metallica was as big as they were. I just thought it was my buddy Kirk's band - we went to high school together. I wasn't really following metal.

I didn't like the way I was let go from Metallica.

If we were to hit the level that Metallica or somebody like that hit, we'd have had a hard time dealing with it. I think it would have been our doom. It's hard for anybody at that level.

Metallica is going to be one of those bands you look back on in the year 2008, that people will still listen to the way I still listen to Zeppelin and Sabbath albums.

I've been a fan of Metallica and friends with those guys for a long time and that was just great - half Alice In Chains and half Metallica playing together.

You don't hear Metallica complaining about Pearl Jam.

It's like they had a backlash the first 11 years. I think the reason why it always seems like there's a backlash is because when bands are unknown, they only get written about by fans.

The '80s were the worst period. You had these horrible pop bands growing their hair and calling themselves metal.

Metallica is a very complicated, fragile thing. On the outside, it's all metal, but on the inside it's very delicate.

I tell you very honestly, 1 billion percent, I have never regretted leaving Metallica.