Which Danish-born musician co-founded Metallica with James Hetfield?

Lars Ulrich, a Danish-born drummer, co-founded Metallica with James Hetfield. The two musicians connected in the Los Angeles area in 1981 and became the band’s founding core.

Ulrich placed an advertisement in The Recycler seeking musicians to play songs by British heavy-metal groups such as Diamond Head and Iron Maiden. Hetfield answered, and their early collaboration led to Metallica’s formation. Ulrich also helped the band gain a place on Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel’s Metal Massacre compilation, an important early step in its recording career.

The other options were later members or collaborators rather than co-founders. Ron McGovney became Metallica’s first regular bassist, Kirk Hammett joined in 1983 after Dave Mustaine’s departure, and Jason Newsted joined after Cliff Burton’s death in 1986. Ulrich has remained Metallica’s drummer and, alongside Hetfield, one of its principal songwriters. He moved from Denmark to Los Angeles as a teenager and ultimately became one of thrash metal’s defining drummers.