Lou Reed And Metallica Team Up For New Album

On Wednesday, Metallica posted a news article and photos on their website under the title “Secret Recording Project?” Under this mysterious header, the band revealed that they’ve been working in their San Francisco studio over the last few months on a new record of ten songs with OG rock and roller Lou Reed.

The partnership was sparked after the metal gods joined the father of experimental rock at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show at Madison Square Garden in October 2009. Metallica and Reed performed “Sweet Jane” together at the show, which celebrated the hall’s 25th anniversary and included appearances over two days by other such luminaries as Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, and U2.

In the announcement, Metallica offer some boilerplate fanboy praise for Reed: “A true innovator and easily one of the most influential songwriters, musicians, and performers in rock music history, Lou’s work with the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist has such an enduring quality that he has long been revered and respected by us and many of our peers.”

At this point, it remains unclear when the album will be released, or who will release it. Metallica released 2008’s Death Magnetic on Warner Bros. Records, after releasing their six previous studio albums on the Warner-owned Elektra. Lou Reed has also released records on Warner Bros., including 2003’s The Raven and the 2007 meditational album, Hudson River Wind Meditations, but has also notably released music on indie powerhouse Matador, such as the live album, Berlin: Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse, in which Reed performed his third solo album Berlin in its entirety.

Read our oddball Legends interview with Reed from the live Berlin era here, in which Reed discusses everything from Bertolt Brecht and James Joyce to Google.