Metallica can't take break from touring due to royalty cuts

The rocker said that all his bandmates would like to take a break to spend time with their families, but the band has to continue working to keep earning.

"The cycles of taking two years off don't exist anymore. We were able to do that because we had record royalties coming in consistently. Now you put out an album, and you have a windfall maybe once or twice but not the way it used to be - a cheque every three months.

"We've been a live band, we've had to get out there and play, play, play... nowadays that was the area we wanted to kind of lay back on a little bit, and kind of enjoy our families and things. But, you know, it is what it is, and we can't change that," Hammett said.u00a0