You’d think that metal gods Metallica were pretty tough, although anyone who saw their band therapy sessions on the film St Anger would note that they’re not shy of shedding a tear when they get a bit emotional – even if it’s on camera.

You’d also be forgiven for thinking that if anyone could make a tough metal band cry, it’d be Lou Reed, who has been known to reduce interviewers to tears with his withering responses to questions and ability to make even famous fans shrink in to their seats in anguish if they happen to get him in the wrong mood.

Hence, it’s therefore no surprise to learn that he recently made James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica cry while they were working together on their new collaboration.

Working together on their new album Lulu, guitarist Kirk Hammett admits that he started crying during the recording of song ‘Junior Dad’. He revealed: “I had just lost my father literally three or four weeks previous. I had to run out of the control room, and I found myself standing in the kitchen, sobbing away.”

Apparently rhythm guitarist Hetfield was also extraordinarily moved by the lyrics of the song, having a bit of a bawl himself. Hetfield added: “James came into the kitchen in the same condition – he was sobbing, too. It was insane. Lou managed to take out both guitar players in Metallica in one fell swoop, with his amazing poetic lyrics.” Lulu is set for release on October 31 in Europe and November 1 in the US.

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