Lars Ulrich’s drum technician, Jimmy Clark, reveals: ‘Metallica is probably the best group in the world I’ve ever worked with’

Lars Ulrich’s drum tech Jimmy Clark: ‘The Metallica crew is probably the best crew in the world’

In a recent interview, Jimmy Clark, the longstanding drum tech for Metallica, discussed how he first got the job with Nicholas Georgakopoulos of The ProgRock Digital podcast. According to BLABBERMOUTH.NET’s transcription, he stated: “Well, I’m approaching my ninth year being with them. And in my field, referrals and the people you’ve met and befriended along the road play a major role. I obtained a portion of the METALLICA organization via acquaintances I’ve known inside the group throughout the years. They just followed me and understood what I was doing since I’ve worked with many different performers as a stage manager, rigger, carpenter, and drummer, among other hats. Thus, when the chance arose to work with Metallica, well, when they needed a drum tech, someone connected contacted me, and the rest is history.”

Jimmy Clark said, “Well, let me tell you,” when asked to “run us through a day in the life of Jimmy Clark out on the road with METALLICA.” What do you know? It’s not stressful at all, and the METALLICA group is a pretty well-oiled machine. Since the [tour] to promote the [record] ’72 Seasons’ started, I believe we’re down to playing 25 performances a year. We now travel with a massive 40-yard-by-40-yard stage, and we do two concerts in each city or nation. It’s simply something you have to get used to. I discovered my footing after doing it for about a week, and now I simply finish it. For starters, the METALLICA team is perhaps the greatest crew there is. Everyone in their division is the best in the business. It is thus made simple by that. Thus, we transfer everything swiftly, effectively, and securely, including our equipment.”

“So yeah, that’s pretty much it,” he went on. For me, it’s not at all stressful. From the moment I received this assignment until our trip to St. Louis the following week and I hear him play that first note once again, I’ve loved it. I adore and find enjoyment in the music of METALLICA; I haven’t grown weary of it. And I eagerly await their performances each night to make sure Lars is enjoying himself and putting on a fantastic show.”

Clark continued by saying that, unlike when he initially began working for the METALLICA group, he no longer feels anxious before every performance. “Oh my God, now I work for METALLICA and I work for the biggest metal drummer in the world,” he said, explaining why he had felt that way at first after landing the job. To me, Lars seems like any other man I might be working for growing up—either Keith Moon or John Bonham. He is well-known. It was a bit unsettling at first until I learned about his facial expressions and realized when he wanted anything, but now it’s to the point where I feel completely at ease with them. As long as I’m quite certain that I have everything under control, I simply go up there and do my job. The worst thing I can do just before a concert is maybe go a long distance to the restroom to take a pee. That, there, is the worst thing that bothers me.”

Clark said in a 2017 interview with Drum! magazine that he worked for a long time as head carpenter on country music icon Kenny Chesney’s tour before landing the METALLICA position. He began his career as a road carpenter/rigger with METALLICA. “Then one day, when I didn’t have much to do, I introduced myself to Flemming [Larsen], who had been Lars’s drum tech through the duration of his career,” Jimmy said. “I called out to Flemming as he was polishing the cymbals. Am I able to assist you? “Sure, man, if you want to,” he said. He hands me the eighteen-inch crash, gives me some rags and polish, and lets me go.”

“Now, as Lars will tell you, I’m the cymbal polish connoisseur,” Clark went on. It’s a personal peeve of mine that if they’re not clean, I won’t play my kit. In fifteen minutes, I bring the crash back to Flemming, and he goes completely insane—and not in a good way. “Oh no!” exclaims he. It’s just too nice! I’ll never be able to make the other ones look as good!” Clark said, “Hey, I can handle them all.” I would be delighted to.

Tony DiCioccio of METALLICA’s management company, Q Prime Management, contacted Clark when Larsen chose to take a break in 2015 and extended an invitation for him to become the official drum tech for the group.

According to Clark, joining METALLICA is his ideal job, as he told Drum! magazine.

“I’ve already told [Lars], ‘I’m here until you retire,’” he said. “That’s my plan: I’ll retire with him.”

As part of the “M72” tour, METALLICA has been doing two-night, no-repeat events in every location, first in Europe and then in North America, to promote their most recent album, “72 Seasons”. At every act, Ulrich is able to approach the crowd closer thanks to four drum sets that are evenly spread out around the circular stage, which is fashioned like a giant ring and centers around the Snake Pit.

The “M72” tour began in Amsterdam around the end of April and will return there in May of next year.