Metallica start auditions for their new bass player

NEW YORK (Metallica Official Website) - Wanna be the new Metallica bass player?
Sorry, auditions are by invitation only.

Metallica aren't after a rent-a-player says Lars Ulrich at the Metallica website. "We want someone that we can be proud to say to the fans and the rest of the universe that this guy is in Metallica, he is a brother, and he is part of the team".

One name being tossed around as a possibly applicant for the job is former Alice In Chains member Mike Inez. Whatever the case, whoever the new bass player is you won't be hearing him on the next Metallica record. Producer Bob Rock is handling the bass bits for the album. Guitarist Kirk Hammett says their will be no announcement from Metallica as to who is auditioning. "We don't wanna give more fuel to the rumor mill, because I'm sure that anyone we name will be seen as a reflection on us and what we are doing at this moment" he states at the Metallica website.

Originally Metallica planned on auditioning bass players after they completed the album but they now reason that if they stick to that plan it will hold up touring. Getting a bass player in now and trained means they will be able to hit the road as soon as the album is released.

The record is planned for a mid 2003 release.