In a recent chat with Matt Mills<\/strong> on the Heavy Stories<\/em> podcast, Mille Petrozza<\/strong> opened up about an almost-career-defining moment: being invited to join Swiss extreme metal innovators Celtic Frost<\/strong> back in 1986.<\/p>\n “I was blown away, because I really respected them and I thought they were one of the best bands in the world. And I still do think that they were definitely one of the innovators,” Mille<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n Though flattered, Petrozza<\/strong> explained that his loyalty to his own fledgling band was a major factor in his decision.<\/p>\n “I knew that I had my own band, but I still wanted to go and see how they work, because they’re great people, and we’re still friends to this day. I have to be honest\u2026 I wanted to jam with [then-Celtic Frost<\/strong> drummer] Reed St. Mark<\/strong> \u2013 and, of course, with Martin<\/strong> [Ain<\/strong>] and Tom<\/strong> [Gabriel Fischer<\/strong>], but Reed St. Mark<\/strong>, for me, was the best drummer in the world.”<\/p>\n Mille<\/strong> spent a week rehearsing with Celtic Frost<\/strong> in an old World War II bunker in Zurich, describing the experience as both awe-inspiring and formative.<\/p>\n “I went there for a week. I wish there was still recordings from that session, because I thought they were just amazing, amazingly professional. And Reed St. Mark<\/strong> was a killer drummer. They were playing in a bunker, an old World War II bunker in Zurich.<\/p>\n “And they were amazing people \u2014 very, very smart, very avant-garde. And I was this little 18- or 19-year-old metal kid. But then when I went back and I came back [home to Germany], I knew that I’m not gonna do it. I knew that I’m gonna do my own thing.”<\/p>\n Ultimately, age and logistics tipped the scales in favor of his own band. “Switzerland, it’s a cool place to be, but I was too young for that\u2026 I had my own band. If I wouldn’t have had my own band, I would definitely have joined them.”<\/p>\n Looking back, Petrozza<\/strong> clearly respects the Swiss trailblazers but remains proud of forging his own path with Kreator<\/strong>, a decision that would cement his place in thrash metal history. “I knew that I’m not gonna do it. I knew that I’m gonna do my own thing.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.<\/p>\n