Ulrich illegally downloads Metallica album

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has admitted that he illegally downloaded the band's latest LP Death Magnetic.

Speaking to VH1, Ulrich confessed that he could not resist downloading the album after coming across a leaked copy online.

"I sat there myself and downloaded Death Magnetic from the internet just to try it," he said. "I was like, 'Wow, this is how it works'. I figured if there is anybody that has a right to download Death Magnetic for free, it's me."

He added: "We found it, this was, like, two or three days after it leaked. I was like, 'You know what? I've gotta try this'. We sat there and 30 minutes later I had Death Magnetic in my computer. It was kind of bizarre."

Ulrich is known for his opposition to illegal downloading. Last year, he defended the band's decision to sue music download network Napster, saying: "It was about control. I'll give away all my s*** for free. But I'll decide when and where and how."

Earlier this week, Metallica were forced to scrap a concert in Sweden after singer James Hetfield was hospitalised with a stomach bug.