Lilker tells Songfacts: "People came up to me, saying with a wink, 'Dan, you joining Metallica?' But I never got a call about it." And he's not sure if he'd have enjoyed working with James Hetfield and co because of the way the band is set up.

"Who knows if I would have lasted?" he says. "That's a band where two dudes make all the money and they pretty much dictate exactly what they want to do. Most of the bands I've been in, I'm one of the main songwriters and direct the nature of the music.