Since the whole Napster debacle, Metallica have had a complicated relationship with their fans, something that isn’t likely to change after the metal legends (or ‘FM radio dads’, depending on what age you first encountered them) completely crushed a superfan in a quiz about their own band on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’.
This might be the only time in the show’s history where the superfan has been beaten out in knowledge by the subject of their fandom, but Metallica don’t play by the rules. Also, is it not particularly cruel for all the members to sign a guitar for the contestant, who was flown out to LA especially to take part in this quiz, and then beat them, thus denying him the prize? As one YouTube commentator said, “They probably gave him the guitar, and Lars later sued him.” People don’t forget!
The band didn’t just turn up in the studio to show off their impressive Metallica knowledge, they also played ‘Atlas, Rise!’ from their new #1 record Hardwired… To Self Destruct and then tore into ‘For Whom The Bells Tolls’ from 1985 album Ride The Lightning – a more than adequate consolation prize for their superfan; assuming they let him stick around to watch, of course.
Both videos are below; photo of Hetfield shopping for bargains here.
