Tennis Community Mourns the Loss of a Titan of the Sport, Jazz Aficionado, and Father of Metallica’s Drummer at 95

Tennis prodigy and music veteran Torben Ulrich, father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich passed away at the age of 95. His son announced his demise on Instagram, sharing several photos of his father with the caption ‘Torben Ulric: 1928-2023.’

It was a sweet celebration of a life well lived. However, the cause and reason for his death is still unclear. Torben was a man of many talents and a well-respected individual in any and every field he worked in. A man born with a free spirit unlike no other!

Tennis and music legend bids farewell

Born on October 4, 1928, in Copenhagen, Torben Ulrich picked up tennis from his father Einer. He was thoroughly involved in the game and always played to have fun, never worrying too much about the result.

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With 14 appearances at Roland-Garros between 1948 and 1973, Ulrich made it to the last 16 of the men’s singles only once, where eventual champion Nicola Pietrangeli beat him. He was, however, a crowd favorite and mesmerized one and all with his unique shot-making and quirky style of play.

Even though he was popular for his laidback attitude and carefree nature, Torben had a knack of not squaring up with the brass. After coming on the wrong side of a controversial umpire decision in the 1956 Scandinavia Cup tie against Sweden, Torben threw the match away.

What followed was a suspension for his unruly behavior. He received many such suspensions thereafter. The tennis player and music enthusiast also served time in prison for refusing to wear a military uniform.

The many talents of Torben Ulrich

His tryst with music is one of passion and great love. During his time at the Roland-Garros, Torben would venture out into the district of Saint Germain-des-Prés. An experienced clarinet and saxophone player, he lived his passion for jazz in the basement club Vieux-Colombier with his friend and tennis player Jörgen.

“It was impossible for him to be on court before 2 pm because he was always asleep,” said his friend Gil de Kermadec about his jazz evening breakouts.

He gained familiarity among Metallica enthusiasts from his appearance in the band’s 2004 documentary, “Some Kind of Monster.” In a notable studio session for the material later featured in their album “St. Anger”, he became an iconic figure after his blunt advice went viral: “I would say, delete that.” Metallica’s fan base revered him as the band’s most candid critic.

Holding the top rank among senior tennis players, writing a weekly column for a Danish daily newspapers, Torben donned many hats and displayed versatility like no other! His son, Lars Ulrich, stated that his father had a significant influence on his musical upbringing and credited him for such a rich experience in his childhood.

In 2021. the 92-year-old musician showed his enduring creativity by putting out a jazz album called “Oakland Moments: Cello, Voice, Reuniting (Rejoicing),” a collaborative effort with cellist and composer Lori Goldston. There was no stopping this man from doing what he always loved. His contributions to the world of sports, music, and arts paint a vibrant picture of a life lived with great heart and passion.

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