Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has spoken out on whether the band will stay with a record label, the latest ticketmaster scandals and Guitar Hero.

Metallica’s Lars Ulrich has spoken to Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times to set the record straight on key issues facing the group:

On whether Metallica needs a major label:

“Without offending any of the good people from the record company in the room, no. Let’s cut to the chase… The primary, not the only, but the primary, function of a record label is to act as a bank. When you’re fortunate enough to be successful and so on, you don’t need to rely on record companies as the banks…”

On the proposed merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster:

“We haven’t sold out to Live Nation, and we are certainly not planning on it. And we are very, very fortunate that we do not need what they offer to continue to be who we are.”

“Certainly, some of the practices that come in the wake of this, like direct reselling and all the stuff that Bruce [Springsteen] was up against in January and some of these other things, obviously are very distasteful, and downright… it’s just ripping people off. It’s impure. So obviously I’d stand up and scream from every rooftop that I think that’s… impure.”

On Metallica’s ties with Guitar Hero:

“When we got a chance to do this, and hopefully score another couple years of being semi-cool in our kid’s eyes by having our own video game, this is something we jumped at pretty quickly. The bigger questions about brandings and perceptions? I really believe that if we sit here five years from now or 10 years…it’ll be a fairly standard way of releasing music.”

For details on a playable demo of Metallica’s Guitar Hero Game click here.

Metallica have recently announced a huge U.S. Tour. To see the dates click here.

Click here to buy tickets to see Metallica at Sonisphere Festival!