Legendary Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo recently shared his views on the most important aspect of being successful in a band: interpersonal skills. During an interview with Toby Morse, he emphasized the importance of supporting your teammates, both in life and when creating music.
Human relations above all
Trujillo, known as a reliable and respected member, said success in a band is as much about the quality of relationships as it is about musical skills. According to him, playing in a band is above all a matter of mutual respect and support: “It’s like living with these people. It's a family, a brotherhood. We have to respect that and respect people. When you share the same space, you must respect each other. You have to help lift other people up, and all of that plays a part.”
Trujillo also discussed the fact that although many musicians possess impressive technical skills, the human factor remains paramount: “There are a million amazing players. But you have to have that bond, that trust, and that connection to help each other get through life. It’s above all a question of respect.”
Also read: MozHell Open Air 2025: the first artists revealed for the second edition
His role in Metallica
Since joining Metallica in 2003, Trujillo has established himself as a pillar of the band. His collaborative and supportive approach proved crucial during the writing sessions, as he explained: “My role is always to meet the needs of the team. I contribute to songwriting whether my name is in the credits or not. I'm here, with Lars [Ulrich] and James [Hetfield]every time we work on music.”
An exemplary career
Before Metallica, Rob Trujillo demonstrated his team spirit in projects with Ozzy Osbourne and Infectious Grooves. This collaborative attitude allowed him to integrate harmoniously into different creative environments while respecting personalities and group dynamics: “I like people to be happy and comfortable. That’s always been important to me, whether it was with Ozzy or Metallica.”
