Metallica drummer not roaming anywhere for Christmas

Metallica used to spend every possible moment on the road back in the band's early days, even during the holidays. But now that the band is older and several members have kids, drummer Lars Ulrich told us that the group's priorities have changed: "The last few years is just about sittin' at home and hanging with the family. A few years ago, it was sort of like, you know, 'Hey, it's a very cool time to tour between Christmas and New Year.' It's like, 'Uh, okay, how did we get talked into that?' So all of a sudden you're sitting somewhere playing, like, a show on December 27th. But these days I'm a little more into just planting my ass at home."

Metallica has played a few local New Year's Eve shows in recent years, along with one in Las Vegas.

The band has written about 25 songs for its ninth studio effort and will tentatively begin recording in January. The new disc will be produced by Rick Rubin and is expected out by late 2007.

People magazine recently reported that Ulrich and actress Connie Nielsen are expecting their first child together after dating for two years. The baby is due early next summer.
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