3 Famous Rock Musicians That Failed To Join Metallica

Metallica, the heavy metal powerhouse, is one of the most iconic bands of all time. Landing a spot in their lineup is a dream for many musicians—but it’s no easy feat. Over the years, some talented artists got close to joining the band, only to be shown the door not long after. Whether it was due to personality clashes, musical differences, or simply bad timing, these musicians learned the hard way that playing with Metallica was a tough gig.

1. Dave Mustaine
In Metallica’s early days, the band developed a reputation for their hard-partying ways, but even among the wild bunch, Dave Mustaine stood out. Known for his out-of-control drinking, destructive behavior, and mistreatment of fans, Mustaine became too much for the rest of the group. Eventually, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich had enough. They fired Mustaine and handed him a bus ticket home.

Understandably, Mustaine didn’t take it well. His firing sparked a long-running feud between Metallica and the band he formed afterward, Megadeth. While he’s gone on to achieve incredible success on his own, fans can’t help but wonder how long Mustaine would’ve lasted in Metallica if he had kept his act together.

2. Les Claypool
When Metallica’s legendary bassist Cliff Burton passed away, the band began the difficult process of finding a replacement. While Jason Newsted ultimately got the gig, other musicians auditioned for the spot, including Les Claypool of Primus. A friend of Kirk Hammett, Claypool showed up to the tryout with a unique style that stood out—but not in the way Metallica hoped.

Claypool later admitted he didn’t really fit Metallica’s vibe and suspected the band thought he was a bit of a “freak.” Interestingly, the group said he was “too good” of a musician to join them. Despite the rejection, Claypool has carved out his own niche, proving his immense talent in his own way.

3. Danny Lohner
Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails also had a brush with Metallica, though it didn’t go as planned. The band tested him out, intrigued by his bass tones, but things fell apart when they tried playing “Battery” together.

Lohner’s struggles were immortalized in footage with Metallica’s Some Kind of Monster, which captured the awkward and messy audition. While things didn’t work out with Metallica, Lohner found success elsewhere, proving there’s life after a Metallica rejection.

Getting burned by Metallica might sting, but it’s clear these musicians found their own paths—and some even came out stronger because of it.