If Metallica plays a cover song during a show, it’s not for kitsch value.
They have a purpose, which is to showcase their roots and the bands that influenced their music. Members of Metallica have literally worn their influences on their sleeves.
Interviews from the 1980s reveal James Hetfield and Cliff Burton chatting while wearing Misfits shirts. Burton also proudly displayed his tattoo of the horror punk band’s fiend skull logo.
READ MORE: Metallica’s Most + Least Played Songs From Their Epic Multi-Year M72 World Tour
Lars Ulrich often acknowledges the acts that were crucial to Metallica’s sound, some dating back to his childhood.
This article looks back at the most played cover songs during Metallica shows and what those performances have meant to both the band and the original artists.
11. ‘Overkill’
Original artist: Motorhead
First played: Dec. 14, 1995 at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, Calif.
Last played: Sept. 14, 2011 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Metallica hasn’t played Motorhead’s “Overkill” since 2011 for good reason; there’s simply no topping their performance that night at Yankee Stadium.
In 2010, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax came together for what was known as the Big 4 concerts. The shows, held exclusively in Europe, featured the “big four” thrash metal bands of that time.
A year later, the Big 4 finally performed in the U.S. with shows at Polo Grounds in Indio, California, and Yankee Stadium in New York. The latter closed with a cover of “Overkill,” featuring members of all four bands performing on stage simultaneously.
10. ‘Helpless’
Original artist: Diamond Head
Times played: 66
First played: March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, Calif.
Last played: Dec. 13, 2024 at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif.
Lars Ulrich has openly discussed Diamond Head’s impact on Metallica. In a 2010 interview, he told Australian rock station Triple M that he felt “fed up” with not being able to get his band off the ground in 1981.
This led him to London to see Diamond Head and eventually meet them backstage.
“I had actually written them a couple of fan letters. I was stunned to find out they actually knew who I was. Maybe they didn’t get as much fan mail as I expected because my letters were actually on their radar,” Ulrich said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
Ulrich ended up staying with the band for several weeks, where he found inspiration to continue as a musician.
9. ‘Blitzkrieg’
Original artist: Blitzkrieg
Times played: 92 times
First played: March 14, 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, Calif.
Last played: Nov. 6, 2022 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida
You will notice multiple entries on this list have “first played” listed as March 14, 1982; this date is widely considered Metallica’s first-ever live performance before an audience.
As with most bands just starting out, Metallica heavily drew from other artists and filled their setlist with covers. After opening with “Hit the Lights,” they played a cover of “Blitzkrieg.”
A studio version of this cover would be released more than 16 years later on Metallica’s Garage Inc. album.
8. ‘Turn the Page’
Original artist: Bob Seger
Times played: 94
First played: Oct. 18, 1998 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles
Last played: April 12, 2023 on the Howard Stern Show in Los Angeles
The subject matter of “Turn the Page” resonated more with Metallica than with its original artist Bob Seger.
“The lyrics are us,” James Hetfield said in an interview about creating Garage Inc.
This refers to the iconic lyric “here I am, on the road again” and how it connects with Metallica as a band that tours extensively.
7. ‘Whiskey In the Jar’
Original artist: The traditional Irish song dating back to the 17th century
Times played: 110
First played: Nov. 17, 1998 at The Warehouse in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Last played: July 5, 2026 at London Stadium in London, England
“Whiskey in the Jar” has been covered by several bands; however, Thin Lizzy’s version from 1972 made a significant impact on U.S. music fans, including Metallica’s James Hetfield.
Durring a performance in Ireland in 2011, Hetfield expressed his admiration for late Thin Lizzy leader Phil Lynott while performing this song. This sentiment continued on social media after the show.
6. ‘Die, Die My Darling’
Original artist: Misfits
Times played: 121
First played: Oct. 18, 1998 at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles
Last played: May 9, 2018 at Hartwall Areena, Helsinki, Finland
The Misfits remain one of Metallica’s most frequently covered artists. Their admiration for this classic punk band was evident when Cliff Burton was still playing bass and showcased his Misfits “fiend skull” tattoo on stage.
Kirk Hammett believes that the Misfits’ influence extends beyond music; he describes them as a “gateway” band to horror-themed music and movies—both of which he enjoys.
“I can just picture some kid who comes with his dad and doesn’t know anything about the Misfits seeing them and thinking ‘wow,'” Hammett said in a Gibson TV interview in 2022. “Then he goes home and picks up an album and sees its titles asking his dad ‘What are these album titles?’ His dad replies ‘Oh those are horror movies.’ Boom! Right there.”
The Most Played Song Live Off Every Metallica Album
The songs you are most likely to hear at a Metallica show.
