Beliebers are easy to spot and are not hard to identify. They are young. They are female. They are hardcore devoted to Justin Bieber. They are not middle-aged metal legends. Or are they?

Turns out that the members of Metallica have admitted to a mutual admiration society when it comes to Da Biebs.

Bieber has espoused his love for Metallica more than once. He likes the "old" stuff, too. He is a loud and proud 'Tallica fan.

When the band was asked if they, in turn, are Beliebers, they had interesting answers.

Drummer Lars Ulrich got philosophical, saying, "Is it possible to have respect for him without being a Belieber? I think the kid’s really talented, and obviously to go through what he’s going through at that early age must be a mindf--k. So the fact that he still goes out there and does it, I admire that and I think he’s super-talented, so I guess I am kind of a Belieber. If he likes ‘One’, and Liam Gallagher likes him, OK, there you go."

Pretty cool, right?

Frontman and guitarist James Hetfield was more succinct, saying, "Are we Beliebers? Yes."

He has teen daughters at home, so that might explain things.

Next question for the mighty Metallica? Are they Directioners?

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