Brace yourself for an unforgettable tale: in 2017, at Los Angeles’s Staples Center, two musical powerhouses—Metallica and Lady Gaga—joined forces in a thrilling performance of “Moth Into Flame” at the Grammy Awards.
What began as an impromptu spark at Bradley Cooper’s dinner party soon blossomed into one of the most talked-about collaborations in Grammy history. As Lars Ulrich casually suggested the mash-up to Gaga, she jumped at the chance: “That sounds incredible!” And just like that, rock met pop in a way the world had never seen.
Lady Gaga’s passion for heavy metal runs deep—she’s stood in awe at Iron Maiden shows, head-banged to Anthrax, and even admits to loving Metallica’s early anthem “Metal Militia.” Determined to honor the band, she arrived hours before the ceremony to rehearse every nuance. James Hetfield later praised her dedication on The Howard Stern Show, calling her “bravely creative and endlessly committed.”
“`
“`
On show night, things went sideways: presenter Laverne Cox forgot to name Metallica, and midway through the song, Hetfield’s mic cut out completely. Picture him pouring his soul into the lyrics—only silence. In a heartbeat, Gaga stepped in, sharing her mic so James’s voice could soar again. That spontaneous moment of solidarity turned a technical glitch into pure magic.
“`
“`
Backstage, tensions flared—Hetfield admitted to feeling furious, saying, “I haven’t been that angry in ages.” Lars later revealed on The Late Late Show that a misplaced cable was the culprit. Yet Hetfield reflected to the New York Post that the mishap became a blessing in disguise: “Sharing Gaga’s mic made it feel like we were truly creating something together.”
“`
“`
That night, Gaga and Metallica proved that when artists unite—mistakes and all—they can deliver a performance for the ages. Their Grammy mash-up remains a testament to the power of music to bridge genres, seize the unexpected, and create moments we’ll cherish forever.