James Hetfield Covers Thin Lizzy And UFO Classics For Metallica’s Benefit Show

Metallica came back roaring with being a part of the Helping Hands benefit concert in Los Angeles on Friday, December 16. If you were one of the lucky ones to be there to watch the rockers center stage, they not only surprised the fans with their first live performance of their new track ‘Lux Æterna’ but they also did acoustic covers of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Borderline’ and UFO’s ‘It’s Killing Me’ for everyone there.

The sold-out benefit show, hosted by late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel held at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater, was off the charts. It featured an opening set by Greta Van Fleet, and during Metallica’s set, the band had a few tricks up their sleeves.

One major surprise was the band’s covers of Thin Lizzy and UFO’s most iconic tracks. Besides that, they were also joined onstage by special guest St. Vincent for a performance of ‘Nothing Else Matters.’ The surprises didn’t stop there. James Hetfield amazed the fans by performing their new track ‘Lux Æterna’ from their eleventh studio album, ‘72 Reasons,’ which is set to be released on April 14, 2023.

However, the most crucial part of the night was, of course, the cause they were supporting. All of the proceeds from this year’s Helping Hands Concert & Auction will go to Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation. The foundation aims to create sustainable communities by giving more attention to hunger and workforce education.

If you were curious whether you could see Metallica live with their forthcoming album, do not fear! They will hit the road around the same time the album releases in April 2023, so keep an eye out for ticket sale announcements to ensure you won’t miss it!