Cover Tunes


COVER TUNES
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 with information on who recorded them, where is the original availabe etc.


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.
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.
Breadfan
-Original: Budgie - "Never turn your back..." (Bourge,Shelley,Phillips)
-Recorded in '89 and available on the "Harvester of Sorrow" 12" single in Europe, and on the "One" single in the US.
Crash Course in Brain Surgery
-Original: Budgie - "CCIBS single" (Shelley/Bourge/Phillips)
-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
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.
Green Hell
-Original: The Misfits 1983
-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
Helpless
-Original: Diamond Head (Tatler,Harris)
-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
Last Caress
-Original: The Misfits (Danzig) 1978
-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP, but also available as a live version on the "Live Shit: Binge and Purge" CD
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.
The Prince
-Original:
-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
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
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 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.
To 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.
The Wait
-Original: Killing Joke 1980 (Killing Joke)
-Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP, and performed live several times

 


COVER TRACKS 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
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
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"
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"
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
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 1976
-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)
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
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?"
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"
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.