SAN FRANCISCO — Metal titans Metallica are synonymous with the Bay Area. The legendary rock band’s roots were planted in San Francisco and the Northern Bay in the early days. Even as some of the band members moved away, they were still invested in their home.

Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett have given back to their local fans that steadfastly supported them. By playing major Bay Area concerts like Outside Lands and the pre-Super Bowl 50’s The Night Before at AT&T Park, and simply showing up to throw their support behind the San Francisco Giants, Metallica finds ways of making connections with fans.

We caught up with Lars Ulrich at the annual “Metallica Day” with the San Francisco Giants, a theme night celebration hosted by the team at AT&T Park.

“San Francisco has always been an integral part of who Metallica is,” Ulrich said. “When we travel around the world we always fly the flag for all things San Francisco and Bay Area.”

Mike DeWald interviews Lars Ulrich of Metallica.

RIFF spoke with Ulrich about the band’s roots and the experience of working with the Giants and the band’s reaction to last October’s deadly North Bay firestorm. The fires ravaged Sonoma and Napa counties. The previous time Metallica set foot at AT&T Park was a the Band Together fire aid benefit concert.

As with many others in the North Bay, the band was also affected, with members’ homes being threatened. While the band has always been conscious of doing good, Hetfield and co. realized being more public about their work might inspire others to do the same.

“We decided if we shouted it from the rooftops it would encourage Metallica fans, and even non-Metallica fans, hopefully, to join us and help out in their local communities,” Ulrich said.  The band formed the All Within My Hands Foundation, and even launched a “Day of Service” to encourage fans to get involved.

Metallica is a taking a summer break before heading back out on the road for another North American tour, including a visit to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Dec. 7.

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald.