When you're in a band as huge as Metallica, it's not unusual to go through the 'Rockstar 101' experience. We're talking groupies, partying on tour and even dabbling with some hard drugs. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich used to partake in cocaine, but in the early 2000s, Ulrich was inspired to lay off the white powder thanks to an unlikely source -- Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.

Metallica's recent performance at Glastonbury Festival, known for showcasing basically every genre besides metal, faced some criticism going into the gig. Frontman James Hetfield's involvement in the History Channel's bear hunting series 'The Hunt' drew even more protests, but once Metallica hit the stage, the band took on the haters with an unquestionably solid set.

While prepping for Glastonbury, The Daily Mirror sat down with Lars Ulrich for an in-depth chat. “It's run in James' family for generations, it's stuff he grew up with," Ulrich says about Hetfield's hunting hobby. "It's a traditional thing close to his heart and I respect that. I give him the space to do his thing. We give each other space.”

As for Noel Gallagher's anti-cocaine influence on Ulrich, the drummer explains, “In the early days, I'd always get drunk way faster than the other guys. I realized that if there was a little bit of cocaine involved I could stay up longer, instead of ending up face down in the corner passed out three hours before the party ended. I loved the social elements of cocaine. I loved the danger of it."

Ulrich continues, “Then about 10 years ago, I read an interview with Noel Gallagher, in which he said: 'I just stopped doing cocaine.' I thought that was really cool: it felt so fresh, so honest, so pure — I love that side of him. I've never had an addictive personality, so I woke up one day and said, 'Enough.'”

Check out the entire interview with Lars Ulrich at The Daily Mirror.

See the Yearbook Photos of Metallica Members + More Metal Stars

More From Loudwire