Wednesday, July 9, 2025
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I made lot of sacrifices to be with Metallica: sound engineer

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Gurgaon: Mick Hughes, who has been the live sound engineer for Metallica for 27 years now, says he has made lot of sacrifices to be with the iconic heavy metal band. The 53-year-old Brit, also called Big Mick, says he as well as the band members have lost out on certain things in life to carry on with their musical journey.

“You have to give up a little in order to gain something. It is the same with me. I chose to be with the band and I lost out on some part of my life. I’m not married because I was travelling with the band. Even they (band members) have made a lot of sacrifices over the years,” Hughes told PTI.

“I enjoy the job. I don’t treat it as work. They are nice guys and every moment with them has been fun. I have no complains,” he added.

Formed in 1981, Metallica comprises lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, drummer Lars Ulrich, lead vocalist James Hetfield and bassist Robert Trujillo. Hughes said that despite being with the band for so many years, there has never been any feud ever.

“I know these guys inside out. We have a very healthy relationship. So far, it has been quite a roller coaster ride, but very fulfilling. We as a band has been through problems. The journey has been wild and strange,” he said.

When asked what is the most challenging aspect of being with a band, Hughes said, “Hardest thing being with a band is travelling. I have been travelling for the past 35 years. And it is quite a challenge.” Before joining Metallica, Hughes worked for the PA company Techserve and engineered for bands including UB40, Dennis Brown, Yellowman and Jungle Man before becoming the touring sound engineer for The Armoury Show, who featured former The Skids singer Richard Jobson and the Banshees guitarist John McGeoch.

“I played for smaller bands earlier but Metallica was different from them. They were 19 and I was 23. I didn’t know what heavy metal was when I joined them. Nobody back in 1984 really knew what heavy metal was. Even the band didn’t know what they were doing. They never thought they would be such a rage,” he said. Hughes also said that the most difficult concert so far with the band was the S&M concert (Symphony and Metallica), which was a live album by the band. (PTI)

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