Metallica recorded their first cover version way back in 83 at their first recording session for the Hit the lights demo. 3 tracks were captured on tape, and two of them were covers. Since then many tunes by other bands and artists have been played, both live, and in the studio. Many of these was Lars' favorites prior to Metallica, and bands that inspired them. Motorhead, Deep Purple, Diamond head and Misfits are good examples. The first years they almost played 50% cover songs on their shows, and today they still perform two or tree at gigs. You will find all these songs listed here.

TRACKS RECORDED IN STUDIO

Killing Time

-Original: Sweet Savage 1981 (Campbell,Bates,Flemming,Haller)

-Metallica recorded this track the same year as Sweet Savage for thir forst demo tape. They recorded a new version in 91that is available on the B-side to "The Unforgiven" single

Let It Loose

-Orignal: Savage (Bradley,Dawson)

- recorded Mars 82 for their first demo

Am I evil?

-Original: Diamond Head - "Lightning to the nations" (Tatler/Harris) 1980.

-Recorded by Metallica in March '84, and releasead together with Blitzkrieg as the first garage days session on the B-side of the Creeping death EP. Also available as "Kill 'Em All" bonus track. You will also find a live version in the "Live Shit: Binge and Purge" CD and video box.

Astronomy

-Original: Blue Õyster Cult

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Blitzkrieg

-Original: Blitzkrieg - "Buried Alive single" 1981 (Jones,Smith,Sirotto)

-Recorded in March '84 and available on the Creeping death EP, and as bonus track on Kill 'em all. Also on Garage Inc.

Breadfan

-Original: Budgie - "Never turn your back..." (Bourge,Shelley,Phillips)

-Recorded in '89 and available on the "Harvester of Sorrow" 12" single in Europe, Garage Inc. and on the "One" single in the US.

Charlie Brown theme

The theme to the charlie brown program , peanuts i think its called. A short instrumental jam at gothenburg, 13 Feb 1987.

Crash Course in Brain Surgery

-Original: Budgie - "CCIBS single" (Shelley/Bourge/Phillips)

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP and also on Garage Inc.

Damage Case

-Original: Motorhead

-This version of 'Overkill' was recorded at a rehearsal in December 1995 when Metallica were preparing to play a few songs at Lemmy's 50th birthday bash in Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the "Hero of the day" single and on Garage Inc.

Die die my darling

-Original: Misfits

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Free spech for the dumb

-Original: Discharge 1982

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Green Hell

-Original: The Misfits 1983

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP and on Garage Inc.

Helpless

-Original: Diamond Head (Tatler,Harris)

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP and on Garage Inc.

It's eletric

-Original: Diamond head(Lightning to the nation"

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Last Caress

-Original: The Misfits (Danzig) 1978

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP and on Garage Inc., but also available as a live version on the "Live Shit: Binge and Purge" CD

Lovermam

-Original: Nick Cave

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Merciful Fate medley

-Original: Merciful fate

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

The More I See

- Original: Released by Discharge in 1984 as a single.

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Overkill

-Original: Motorhead

-This version of 'Overkill' was recorded at a rehearsal in December 1995 when Metallica were preparing to play a few songs at Lemmy's 50th birthday bash in Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the new single and on Garage Inc.

Phantom of the Opera

-Original: Iron Maiden

-A short improvisation mostly on bass for about 15- 25 seconds. Played in Osaka Janpan, 17 may 1989

The Prince

-Original: Diamond head

-Released on the American version of the "One" single, and on the "Harvester of Sorrow" single here in Europe as well as an extra track on the Japanese "...And justice for all" album. Now also on Garage Inc.

Run to the Hills

-Original: Iron Maiden (Harris) 1982

-I'm not sure if it is right to put this track under the "recorded tracks" heading, as you'll only hear a few improved seconds at the end of "Garage days". Only the intro, and no vocals, but they have played the complete version live several times

Sabra Cadabra

-Original: Black Sabbath

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

The Small Hours

-Orginal: Holocaust (Holocaust)

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP

So What

-Original: The Anti-Nowhere League - "We Are the League" 1981 (Exall,Culmer)

-Recorded '91. Available on the "Sad But True" single, and as bonus track on the Japanese "Black album"

Stone Cold Crazy

Original: Queen in 1974 (Mercury,May,Taylor,Deacon)

Recorded '91 for the tribute sampler to Queens vocalist Freddy Mercury who died of AIDS the same year. Also available on Garage Inc, the B-side of the "Enter sandman" single as well as "Live Shit: Binge and Purge" CD

Stone Dead Forever

-Original: Motorhead

-This version of 'Overkill' was recorded at a rehearsal in December 1995 when Metallica were preparing to play a few songs at Lemmy's 50th birthday bash in Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the "Hero of the day" single.

Tuesday's Gone

-Original: Lynyrs Skynyrd (1973)

-Recorded live on a radio show in 98 for the Garage Inc.

Too Late, Too Late

-Original: Motorhead

-This version of 'Overkill' was recorded at a rehearsal in December 1995 when Metallica were preparing to play a few songs at Lemmy's 50th birthday bash in Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the "Hero of the day" single and on Garage Inc.

Turn the page

-Original: Bob Seger

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

The Wait

-Original: Killing Joke 1980 (Killing Joke)

-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP, on the Garage Inc. and performed live several times

Whiskey in the jar

-Original: Thin Lizzy

-Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

 

COVERS ONLY PLAYED LIVE

MOTORHEAD

Metallica played the following Motorhead tunes as "The Lemmys" November 95 at Lemmy's 50th birtdayparty at Whiskey A Go-Go

-Overkill

-Damage Case

-Stone Dead Forever

-To Late, Too Late

-The Chase is Better than the Catch

-Ace of spades

RAMONES

Metallica performed a secret gig under the name Spun June the 4th 2002 with Bob Rock on bass. They opened with these four ramones covers

-Commando

-Today Your Love Tomorrow The World

-53rd and 3rd

-Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

Antisocial

Trust

By the french band Trust. The trust's singer was present at this concert. Paris, france 16th September 1996.

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

-Original: Lenny Kravitz

-A short 25 second live improv at Buenos Aries, Argentina 08.05.93

Back in Black

-Original: AC/DC 1980, (album: Back in black)

-Short 15 second live improv at Basel, Switzerland 25.08.91

Black Magic

Original: Slayer

Performed at the Monsters of rock festival at Donnington 95. They played a little bit of the intro when jaymz was asking the crowd if they liked the rest of the bill. Slayer played on the same Festival

Black Night

-Original: Deep Purple

- short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Burn

-Original: Deep Purple (Burn)

-Five seconds live in Gothenburg, Sweden (13.2.87)

Cat Scratch Fever

-Original: Ted Nugent

-Short live improv at Sacramento, CA 01.10.91

Children Of The Grave,

Black Sabbath,'71

Ontario, Canada, 4-14-92

Cold Gin

-Original: Kiss

-Short version played at the Lollapalooza tour in '96 which ended in Enter Sandman.

A Corpse Without a Soul

-Original: recorded by Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Crossroads

- Original Cream

- Can be found in the guitar/bass solo in Live Shit: Binge And Purge

Custard Pie

-Original: Led Zeppelin

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Death Comes Ripping

-Original: The Misfits 1983

-James performed this once with i4Ni

Dazed and Confused

-Original: Led Zeppelin

-Metallica: Part of Jason & Kirk's solos in Mexico City (LS:B&P)

Detroit Rock City

-Original: Kiss (Album: Destroyer)

-30 second live improv at the palloza tour, US 05.07.96

Death Kiss (Walking Back to Hell)

-Original: Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Devil Eyes

-Original: Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Don't Touch Me There

-Original: Tygers of Pan Tang

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Do You Know the Way To San Jose

- Original: Dionne Warwick

- Kirk started playing a riff. James then asked "is that a new riff your working on, Let's hear it" Kirk then stepped up to the mic and played and sang several lines of "Do You Know the Way To San Jose" (lasting about 30-40 seconds), San Jose 31.12.96.

Euthenaisia

-Original: Tygers of Pan Tang in 1980

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Guilty of Love

-Original: Whitesnake

- played the intro at the Monsters Of Rock festival, England 1995.

Halloween II

Original: The Misfits 1981

- James and Kirk performed this live with Danzig at San Francisco, CA 05.01.89

Hells Bells

Original: AC/DC 1980

-Short 15 second live improv at Paris, France 21.09.91

Hey Jude

-Original: The Beatles

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Highway Star

-Original: Deep Purple (Machine Head)

Metallica: a few seconds live in Alpine Valley, WI, USA (28.5.88)

Holier

-Original: Corrosion of Conformity

-Metallica version: live doodle at Donington (26.8.95) and LA2 (23.8.95)

How Many More Times

-Original: Led Zeppelin

-Performed several times as a short 70 second live improv Tokyo, Japan 14.05.89

In My Time of Dying

-Original: Led Zeppelin

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Into the Coven

-Original Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Into The Void

Black Sabbath,'71

Budapest, Hungary, 8-22-91

Iron Man

-Original: Black Sabbath "Paranoid"

-Performed as a 30 second live improv at Newark, DE 07.08.89

It Ain't Like That

- Original: Alice in Chains "Facelift" (1991)

The song that they start into right before "King Nothing" on the "Mama Said" single is "It Ain't Like That" by from Facelift.

La Bamba

-Original: Richie Valens

-Short 30 second live improv at Austin, TX 03.02.89

La Grange

-Original: ZZ Top

-Short 60 second instrumental live improv at New Orleans, LA 18.01.92

Let There Be Rock

Original: AC/DC 1977 (Album: Let there be rock)

4th April 1998 in Sydney, Australia.

Linus and Lucy

Original: Vince Guaraldi

Metallica: part of their live doodle in Gothenburg, Sweden (13.2.87)

Little Wing

-Original: Jimi Hendrix 1967

-Performed instrumentally at several concerts in '89

London Dungeon

-Original: The Misfits 1981

-Performed a short version here and there over the years in concert, a full version was performed with Danzig at Chicago, IL 03.07.94

Man in the Box

-Original: Alice in Chains

-Performed live every now and then

Mistreated

-Original Deep Purple "Burn"

-Performed instrumentally on several occasions, (Hamilton, Canada 14.04.92)

Moby Dick

Original: Led Zeppelin (II)

Metallica: Jason plays the bass part before the drum solo on the San Diego "Live Shit" video

"More Human than Human"

-Original: White Zombie (Astro Creep 2000...)

-live doodle at Donington (26.8.95)

"My Sharona"

- Original: The Knack's

- 20 seconds played at the encore at March 2 at the Bryce Jordan Center, University Park, PA, USA

N.I.B.

-Original: Black Sabbath 1970

-Short 15 second live improv version at Belfast, Ireland 01.10.88

Nightmare

-Original: Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Nuns Have No Fun

-Original: Mercyful Fate

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

the ole' charlie brown theme

-Original: Peanuts

-About one minute live at the Aardshock festival 02.08.87

Postmortem

-Original: Slayer 1986

-Performed live as a 25 second improv at Austin, TX 03.02.89

Prowler

-Original: Iron Maiden 1980

-Performed as a live 80 second improv a few times, (Sheffeild, UK 30.09.88)

Raining blood

-Original: Slayer 1986

-Performed as a live 60 second version, (new jersey, USA, 04.04.92)

Rapid fire

-Original: Judas Priest

-Rob Halford Judas Priests old vocalist sings this song with the band 21.08.94 at Bicentennial Park, Miami

Remember Tommorow

-Original Iron Maiden

- performed live at the Monsters of rock festival Donnington 26.08.95

Return of the Vampire

Original: Mercyful Fate

-A short 25 second live improv version at Frolundaborg, Sweden 13.02.87

Round and Round

Original: Ratt

played live at Merriweather Post Pavillion, Maryland in 1993.

Smoke on the Water

-Original: Deep Purple

-Instrumental version was performed several times live (Los Angeles, CA 22.02.93)

Stairway to Heaven

-Original: Led Zeppelin (IV/ZOSO)

-Metallica: Jaymz plays it during "A Year... Part 1"

The Star Spangled Banner

Original: Francis Scott Key

Metallica: many live shows including "Binge & Purge" in San Diego in the middle of "Am I Evil?"

Stranglehold

Original: Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent came on stage and sang this tune with James. (22.02.97 Palace of auburn hills, michigan)

Sucking My Love

-Original: Diamond Head

-Rehearsed in Ron McGovney's garage Mars 82, never performed live .

Sweet Home Alabama

-Original: Lynyrd Skynyrd

-Quick 30 second version before startin with One. (Buffalo, NY USA, Dec. 1993 Buffalo, NY USA)

Symptom of the Universe

-Original: Black Sabbath 1975

-Several short 30 second live improv versions (Hamilton, Canada 14.04.92)

Third Stone From The Sun

Original: Jimi Hendrix Experience

Metallica: "Live Shit: Binge & Purge" in Mexico City before "Of Wolf And Man"

Twist of Cain

-Original: Danzig (Danzig)

-Metallica version: live in Rutherford, NJ, USA (21.7.89) during beginning of "Seek & Destroy"

War Pigs

Black Sabbath,'70

Providence, Rhode Island, 2-29-92

We Are The Road Crew

Motorhead

Played live 14 December 1995

When the Money Comes Rolling In

-Original: Fang

-Performed live in Berkley, CA on 24.08.85

Walk this way

-Original: Aerosmith

-Short improv versions played several times. Can be heard on "Live shit - binge & purge"

"Welcome to the Jungle"

Original: Guns'n roses, "Appetite for destruction"

Played at the "Monsters Of Rock" festival Donnington 95. James asked the crowd if they liked the rest of the bill when they played the intro to this song

Wonderwall

-Original; Oasis, 1995

-Short version recorded during rehearsal on the fan-club CD "FanCan #1"

Youth Gone Wild

-Original: Skid Row

-Played the intro to this song at the Monsters of rock festival at Donnington, England 95.