Although Metallica have tour dates lined up until the end of July, drummer Lars Ulrich is already thinking about an extra-curricular assignment. Ulrich has offered up his services should the members of Deep Purple's third incarnation move forward with a proposed reunion gig.

With all members of this version of the band -- save for drummer Ian Paice -- expressing interest in re-teaming, Ulrich says he would be stoked to "do a [Dave] Grohl" and sit in with the line-up, in the February issue of Classic Rock magazine.

It seems that as a young lad, Ulrich saw the live debut of this Deep Purple line-up -- which included David Coverdale (vocals), Glenn Hughes (bass, vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards) and Ritchie Blackmore (guitar) -- in Copenhagen back in 1973. "I remember they played a lot of new songs, I was all of nine years old," Ulrich said.

"That was the famous gig where in a newspaper article the day after, Coverdale was talking about puking in the toilets backstage before the show, he was so fired up with nerves," Ulrich added.

"I know there's talk about the fact that if they got together, they would have four members who aren't in the current Deep Purple -- then they just need a drummer," he explained. "I'll volunteer myself for that. If they need a drummer, David Coverdale has my number."