Metallica hit back at 'ridiculous' Glastonbury critics: 'Huh? What? Who are you?'

Lars Ulrich takes Mick Jagger's views on board but has no time for Mogwai

Metallica are headed for the Main Stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals next summer (Reuters)

Metallica have hit back at critics ahead of their Glastonbury headline slot later this month, with drummer Lars Ulrich brushing off negative comments as “ridiculous”.

The heavy metal group’s booking came under fire when announced, with various musicians airing their views on organiser Michael Eavis’ “bold” decision.

But while the US band accepts and values the opinions of high-profile acts, the outspoken thoughts of Joe Bloggs irk them.

“We’re fairly thick-skinned and turn a blind eye to it or whatever,” Ulrich told Metal Hammer. “If it’s Mick Jagger or Alex Turner or the very nice guys in Kasabian who I love, it’s cool. But at some point when there’s some guy in some other band it’s like ‘Huh? What? Who are you?”

Ulrich could well be referring to much smaller Scottish metal group Mogwai, who last week described Metallica as “unbelievably bad”. Mogwai’s set is scheduled to clash with “terrible” Metallica’s at Glastonbury.

Mogwai have attacked their 'unbelievably bad' Glastonbury rivals

Ulrich went on to address the petitions that have been set up following news of frontman James Hetfield’s involvement in a pro-hunting TV documentary.

“Glastonbury is like the Holy Grail in England and we’re respectful to that,” the 50-year old continued. “But when somebody sits there and talks about petitions or what some other guy says, there’s a point that it just becomes ridiculous.”

Among those to pass comment on Metallica’s Glastonbury appearance are Turner, who thinks the booking “does not add up”; Jagger, who reckons they are “going to be great”; Johnny Marr who thinks the performance will be “funny”; and, most recently, Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, who is concerned that their sound will be “a bit abrasive” for the “fragile” crowd.

“(Festivalgoers) have probably not had much sleep and they’ve been indulging in certain things,” Cocker, who headlined Glastonbury in 1995, told BBC 5 Live.

“So the main thing is to be a vague, warm, friendly presence. Whether a full-borne rendition of “Enter Sandman” is going to fill those criteria I don’t know.”

But Metallica insist they will be raring to go when they take to the Pyramid Stage on Saturday 27 June. “We’re definitely on a roll,” said Ulrich. “We’re warmed up, loosened up and fit for a fight”.