As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Metallica’s newest album, Death Magnetic, which will be released worldwide next Friday, September 12, 2008. The album was leaked to the internet as of yesterday, September 2, 2008. So what does Metallica, the band who were once the most outspoken crusaders against illegal downloading in the early days of Napster, have to say about the leak? Drummer Lars Ulrich told US radio station Live 105, “Listen, we’re ten days away from release,” signaling that he’s not overly concerned with the leak.
He continues; “From here we’re golden. If this thing leaks all over the world today or tomorrow, happy days. Happy days. Trust me. Ten days out and it hasn’t quote-unquote fallen off the truck yet? Everybody’s happy. It’s 2008 and it’s part of how it is these days, so it’s fine. We’re happy.”
Quite a departure from the late 1990’s when the Danish drummer showed up to court with trucks full of names of people who illegally downloaded his band’s material through Shawn Fanning’s Napster service. Now I don’t feel as bad that I’ve gotten a copy. I didn’t really in the first place; I’m still planning on buying the album next Friday anyway.
Tags: Crusaders, Danish, Death Magnetic, Drummer Lars Ulrich, Happy Days, Illegal Downloading, Leaks, Live 105, Metallica, Napster, Napster Service, Quote, Radio 105, Radio Live, Radio Station, Shawn Fanning, Trucks, World Today