METALLICA's LARS ULRICH On Tonight's CHRIS CORNELL Tribute Concert: It's Exciting Just To See What's Gonna Happen'

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich spoke to Forbes about the band's participation in the Chris Cornell tribute concert taking place tonight (Wednesday, January 16) at the Forum in Los Angeles.

"It's a chance to get together and maybe for some people get a little bit of resolve and have a moment that celebrates primarily the music, the creative side and that all the different people from his whole close-to-30-year musical journey will be there to celebrate and acknowledge and share is really cool," he said. "It's exciting just to see what's gonna happen. I'm sure there are gonna be some Kodak moments and some pretty special things that will come out of the whole thing organically. I look forward, as a fan, more than anything to be part of the night."

Asked what he hopes fans take from this night, Lars said: "Like I said, it's unfortunate it's under the dark cloud of his passing. But as a fan, hopefully it'll bring another step and maybe some resolve or start having some public conversation about depression and what this disease does to people and how it affects so many more people amongst us than what we really think. And how we're probably always much closer to people that are struggling with this on a day-to-day basis than we truly understand."

Other rock artists confirmed for the lineup include FOO FIGHTERS, Josh Homme of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, Taylor Momsen from THE PRETTY RECKLESS, Perry Farrell of JANE'S ADDICTION, THE MELVINS, BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler and Ryan Adams, along with members of Cornell's bands SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE and TEMPLE OF THE DOG. Also scheduled to appear are pop stars such as Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile, Adam Levine, Fiona Apple, Miguel, country artist Chris Stapleton and Ziggy Marley.

According to a press release, each artist appearing at the show, dubbed "I Am The Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell", has curated their own performance to honor the singer, who took his own life in May 2017 after a SOUNDGARDEN show in Detroit.

The show is presented by Cornell's family and closest friends, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting. The host committee includes Vicky Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Cameron, Brad Pitt, Josh and Kathryn Brolin, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Courteney Cox, Kaley Cuoco, David Spade, John Carter Cash, Linda Ramone and others.

Each ticket purchased online for the show will include a copy of Cornell's recently released self-titled career retrospective album. Proceeds from the evening will benefit The Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation as well as The Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds and awareness for this painful and debilitating genetic disorder.