As someone who’s known the members of Metallica since they first got together, Tesla bassist Brian Wheat isn’t exactly a fan of the rival band. Rather, he’s a super fan.
“Metallica — when you probably list the top 10 greatest bands of all time, they’re in that top 10,” Wheat says. “And I’m saying of all time. And not just rock bands. I’m saying you put the Temptations in there and you put in James Brown and you put the Beatles and the Stones and Zepplin and Queen, they’re in the top 10 universally, not just rock, not just rock. So, I could never say anything bad about Metallica, nor would I, because I’m a fan. I love Metallica.”
In fact, Wheat says he still maintains a relationship with former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, who lives about four miles from his New York home. Plus, “I did see James Hetfield and got to catch up with James when I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago,” he says. “And like I told him, I’m, like, ‘Dude, I’m so proud of you guys, just what you’ve done.’ It’s great.”