"50 days of Metallica" contest winner, a listener of the 94.1 FM WYSP radio station in Philadelphia, got a chance to interview METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich when the band performed in the city on January 17, 2009. An excerpt from the chat follows below.

Question: After Dave Mustaine's removal from the band, how's the relationship been with Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH today?

Lars: "Up and down. It's always been up and down. I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Dave, and I've always liked him, but he's had some ups and downs. We've always respected his band. I've always respected him as a musician. I think he's had some great players with him; he's a great songwriter. There's been, obviously, some posturing, and some talking from both sides [of the mouth] over the years, and to me it's more, like, sort of kindergarten, sandbox type of stuff, but I've got nothing but respect for him and appreciation for his time in METALLICA. He got a little upset a few years back over his inclusion in the 'Some Kind of Monster' movie and I haven't actually had any contact with him since."

Watch the entire 10-minute interview below.

METALLICA will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, it was announced at a press conference in New York on January 14. Joining the band as inductees are guitar legend JEFF BECK, RUN-DMC, BOBBY WOMACK, and LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS. THE STOOGES were once again left off the list, despite being nominated several times and enduring the death of guitarist Ron Asheton last week.

METALLICA are first-time nominees, with the nomination coming 25 years after the release of the band's 1983 debut album, "Kill 'Em All". An act must be recording for a quarter century in order to be eligible. The induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland on April 4 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum itself and will be broadcast live on the Fuse cable channel. Previous ceremonies have been held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.

Presenters and performers at the ceremony have yet to be announced.

In addition to current METALLICA members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo, previous bassists Jason Newsted and Burton will also be inducted.