Metallica celebrated the 100th episode of The Metallica Report Podcast by trying to answer a very difficult question -- what is the best song of all time?
Guitarist Kirk Hammett went first -- and was the only member to stick to just one song. "The classical piece 'Blue Danube' [by Johann Strauss]. Every time I hear it, it just pulls at my heartstrings. I don't know why. But it's just a beautiful piece of music."
James Hetfield then asked, "Is this a song for every mood, every day, every action? You know, when I'm driving 'Ace of Spades' [by Motorhead] is the best song."
He then considered what would be the best written song. "As stupid and simple as it sounds, I think [Led Zeppelin's] 'Stairway to Heaven' is just one of those songs that so many bands have tried to emulate. You start off light and end up heavy. [Lynyrd Skynyrd's] 'Free Bird', [our song] 'One.' There's so many songs that have emulated that."
Lars Ulrich then added, "If you go for that kind of vibe then I'd throw [Deep Purple's] 'Child of Time' in there. And if you go the opposite, cause there's this thing about simplicity in a song, and it's harder to write simple than the other way, then the first one that comes to mind is [Oasis'] 'Supersonic.'"
Robert Trujillo couldn't narrow it down to just one song. "Seriously, if we're going down this route, I think every single song off freaking Back to Black. Every AC/DC song on the Back in Black album is crazy. It's all like one good song to me."
Then Hetfield brought the conversation to an end by stating, "Okay, I got it. Anything by Black Sabbath."
Metallica wind up their U.S. tour this Friday and Saturday in Denver.