Last week Mustaine told RollingStone.com that James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett planned to replace Ulrich at the end of the tour during which bassist Cliff Burton died. He said Scott Ian of Anthrax had told him so: "That's what Scott told me. He said when Metallica got home, James, Cliff and Kirk were going to fire Lars."

Anthrax later commented via their Twitter account, saying: "Not true. Little does anyone know but Lars actually owns the Metallica name. Good luck with ever kicking him out." Now Classic Rock Magazine has spoken to the Megadether again, who stands by what he said, and explains he was trying to help plug Ian's book. Mustaine says: "It was something Scott told me. I was trying to help him promote his autobiography. I love Scott and would never do anything to hurt him - never. But it's what he told me, and other people have heard it too." [more from Mustaine and apparently now Ian denies that he issued the denial, it was their webmaster.. but he did deny the book.... all of that - here]

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