Metal Militia Pays Tribute to Rocket Man: METALLICA Covers Elton John at Gershwin Prize Ceremony
Thrash titans METALLICA showed their softer side (well, kinda) with a powerful performance honoring legendary singer-songwriter Elton John and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin at the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
The full, heart-pounding rendition of “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” from John’s iconic 1973 album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is now live on METALLICA‘s YouTube channel and can be seen below.
This exclusive event, held in March at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., saw Elton and Bernie collect the prestigious Gershwin Prize, awarded for their immense contribution to music. Hosted by the flamboyant Billy Porter, the evening featured appearances by the celebrated duo themselves.
A METALLICA Twist on a Classic
METALLICA fans got a taste of the performance back in April with a social media snippet. In a nod to Elton John‘s guest appearance on their 2021 “The Metallica Blacklist” album, the band wrote: “Sir Elton John helped cover ‘Nothing Else Matters‘ on ‘The Metallica Blacklist‘ in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favour! Tune in to PBS to catch our rendition of ‘Funeral For A Friend’ / ‘Love Lies Bleeding‘ at this year’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Music, celebrating the achievements of Elton John and his writing partner, Bernie Taupin.”
Prior to the event, METALLICA released a statement, saying: “We are beyond excited and proud to have been invited to perform at a very special event honoring the legendary songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin as they are presented with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
“We are traveling to Washington, DC, next month to join Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and others for the tribute concert and award presentation on March 20. PBS stations nationwide will premiere the concert on Monday, April 8, at 8 PM ET (check local listings),available via broadcast and streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.
“Elton and Bernie have been collaborating for 56 years and counting, and together, they have penned some of our lifetime’s most memorable and influential songs. We are thrilled to celebrate this honor with them, and we look forward to an incredible evening of unique performances from their remarkable collection of songs.”
Mutual Admiration Society
According to People magazine, METALLICA couldn’t hide their admiration for John and Taupin‘s enduring partnership. “They’re an inspiration to us,” frontman James Hetfield said. Guitarist Kirk Hammett added, “They’re responsible for some of the greatest songs of my childhood.”
The star-studded soiree also included performances by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, country music legend Garth Brooks, folk darling Brandi Carlile, and EURYTHMICS co-founder Annie Lennox.
A Celebration of Songwriting Greats
The 90-minute program, “Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song“, pays tribute to this legendary songwriting duo as they receive this well-deserved recognition from the Library of Congress.
A Match Made in Musical Heaven
Teaming up in 1967, John and Taupin have crafted timeless classics like “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” and the iconic “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” But their talents extend beyond ballads. They’ve also produced electrifying rock anthems like “Bennie And The Jets” and “Crocodile Rock,” which became their first U.S. No. 1 single in 1973.
Elton John: A Solo Superstar
Today, Sir Elton John stands as one of the best-selling solo artists ever, with over 70 Top 40 hits spanning six decades, including a whopping nine No. 1s and 28 Top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100. He’s sold a staggering 300 million records worldwide.
John even holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time with his and Taupin’s re-worked “Candle In The Wind 1997,” a tribute to Princess Diana that sold over 33 million copies. In 2018, he was crowned the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 history. And here in the US, John holds the record for the longest span between Billboard Top 40 hits, a remarkable 50 years!