METALLICA’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett performed the U.S. national anthem before the Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers game on Monday (March 15).
Just prior to tip-off, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the METALLICA guitarists delivered a “metalized” version of the anthem very much n the vein of the sound that the band is known for.
This isn’t the guitarists’ first time performing the National Anthem before a Warriors game either. Hetfield and Hammett previously shredded through “The Star-Spangled Banner” before game 3 of the NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors in June 2019.
Prior to Monday night, the pair most recently performed it virtually before the September 2020 baseball game featuring the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies.
“They’re always a pleasure. Come on, to be able to support a hometown team in the best possible way, it’s a huge honor,” Hammett said in an interview. “And also to be able to play the national anthem for a hometown team, that’s just beyond huge. As a native San Franciscan, the honor to be a civil servant for San Francisco cannot be higher for me to play the national anthem with James.”