"If we were to hit the level that Metallica or somebody like that hit, we'd have had a hard time dealing with it. I think it would have been our doom. It's hard for anybody at that level"

Jerry Only’s reflection highlights the pitfalls of fame and the challenges that accompany massive mainstream success, particularly in the world of music. Using Metallica, a band renowned for ascending from underground thrash origins to global superstardom, as an example, Only implies that reaching such a pinnacle comes with tremendous pressures and complexities that may not be obvious from the outside. For a band like his, which thrived in a subcultural, perhaps more insular scene, the leap to worldwide stardom might have threatened not just their creative integrity but possibly their relationships, mental health, and even the unique appeal that defined them.

Only’s acknowledgment that immense success “would have been our doom” speaks to a self-awareness about his band’s limitations, identity, and perhaps the values they cherished. Major fame can invite a host of temptations and expectations: commercialization, loss of control over artistic direction, and an onslaught of scrutiny from both media and fans. The pressures to constantly outperform, to please an ever-widening audience, and to exist under the microscope of public life can erode the spirit that brought a group together in the first place. Only seems to suggest that not every artist is equipped to carry this burden, some may thrive, but others could splinter or self-destruct.

Thus, the statement is not just about the challenges of “dealing with” external pressures, but also about the survival of what makes a band distinct. Metallica’s journey was rare, but many who reach such heights struggle under the weight. Only’s candidness underscores a preference for authenticity and sustainability over fleeting or overwhelming grandeur, an acceptance that staying true to one’s roots, even if it means less recognition, might ultimately be more fulfilling and less hazardous than chasing the storm of mainstream celebrity.