When Rob was a member of Suicidal Tendencies back in the mid-90's and toured with Metallica, he was just in awe. Ten years later he received the dream call to audition for the band. He nailed every song they threw at him with his finger picken’ style that brought back the essence of Cliff Burton's style of playing. Look for some jungle crazy bass lines as Rob's song writing abilities will debut on the next album!
The Vitals:
The Story: Robert grew up In Venice Beach, California listening to his mother's Motown records and playing on his father's flamenco guitar which he naturally started at the age of eight. He couldn't afford a drum set or a piano, but he started buying and fixing up old basses and eventually borrowed a hollow body Harmony Bass on which to learn on. When Rob was 18 he got his first real bass--a Kramer with an aluminum neck. By then he had begun to experiment with the slap sytle of playing bass. He stated that he wasn't very good at it, though; he would practice and practice, and then he would listen to Larry Graham and get frustrated. He later said, "That stuff was like Japanese to me--so I decided not to learn bass lines note-for- note. I realised music like that was based on feel, so I decided it was more important for me to develop my own feel." Robert attended the Dick Grove School of Music in 1985. Grove is very jazz-oriented, and he learned a lot about technique while studying there. He also learned from hanging out with the other musicians. But at the same time, he later stated that he felt as if the faculty was telling him there were certain things he had to learn or else he wouldn't make it. He felt that was kind of weird, and so he left after a year. He then began playing in various small bands like Oblivion, St. Regis and True Colors. He was friends at school with Rocky George (guitarist with Suicidal Tendencies) and worked at the Comeback Inn Jazz Club in Venice, California next door to Suicidal Tendencie's vocalist Mike Muir. Having got to know the band he was then invited to join them for a European tour in 1989 supporting East Coast Thrashers Anthrax. While with Suicidal Tendencies, Robert flourished, making some of their seminal albums; Lights, Camera, Action (1990); The Art Of Rebellion (1992) and Still Cyco After All These Years (1993). He was able to play using a pick but preferred to slap the bass and use heavy strings, something uncommon for Bass players. During his years with the band, Mike Muir heard some of Robert's homemade demos and they collaborated on a more funkier progressive sound under the name Infectious Grooves. They produced a number of albums such as The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move....(1991), Sarsippius' Ark (1993) and Groove Family Cyco (1994). In 1995 both projects came to an end and Robert began looking for a new gig.
He didn't have to wait long, in 1996, the call came to join Ozzy Osbourne's solo band on tour. Along with Mike Bordin (ex-Faith No More), Robert was to remain part of Ozzy's band for seven years. He also played bass on Alice In Chains Guitarist Jerry Cantrell's solo album Degradation Trip (2002) and toured as part of Cantrel's Solo' band in 2001/02. Robert had gotten to know Metallica when they toured with Suicidal Tendencies in 1994. Rob and Kirk had become great friends through their mutual love of surfing. In March 2003 Metallica offered Robert the opportunity of becoming their new bassist and family member, which he accepted. Since that time Robert has toured extensively with the band and has learned a vast number of Metallica songs to play. After joining the band, Robert said that he feels as if he had a lot to bring to the band, "As a performer, physically, technically, I play the way I feel. Of course, when I'm out there (on stage), I go hard. I give it everything I can. I feed off the music and the fans feed off that. No disrespect, but I'm playing because I'm feeling it, not because I think I have to please that fan over there, or that fan there. I always thought there was a lot of groove in Metallica. That's Metallica's secret ingredient that they have over other bands. The groove factor that James has is the heartbeat of the band." Robert has been known to perform unique stunts on stage such as playing his bass guitar extremely low at his knees and spinning around swinging his bass guitar with him, a move which he has christened the 'tornado'
Robert is married and has two children named Tai Orion and Lulu. His wife's name is Chloe. Other Facts: Pre-Metallica Jobs: Worked in a Jazz Cafe called the Comback Inn Other bands: Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne's band Musical Influences: Geezer Butler, Jaco Pastorious and Larry Graham Hobbies/Interests: Surfing, Snowboarding, Working on old cars, World cup Soccer Going out to lunch with his Mom, Hanging with the Ladies Favorite bands: Black Flag and Pink Floyd Likes to drive: Black Subaru Outback Likes to drink: Red Bull Likes to eat: Healthy Foods Favorite sports: surfing and world cup soccer Favorite movies: Silence Of the Lambs and Pulp Fiction Top |
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Robert Trujillo
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