With just one more day to go until the release of Metallica's forthcoming studio album, 72 Seasons -- arriving this Friday, April 14 -- the band gave their best shot at becoming actual puppet masters during the final day of 'Metallica Week' on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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Leaning way into the band's '80s single "Master Of Puppets," Kimmel brought in a marionette teacher to see if they could make the Metallica guys good enough puppeteers to perform in front of a group of kids. Telling the band’s origin story, drummer Lars Ulrich went first, as a cactus or Scandinavian cucumber. Frontman James Hetfield came next as a grumpy, gravely-voiced cat, followed by guitarist Kirk Hammett as a donkey, and bassist Robert Trujillo as an invisible man.
As the story goes, James' cat deems Country music "lame," while Kirk's donkey suggests polka and salsa music, both of which received boos from the kids. So, the band eventually decided, with the help of Satan, of course, on Heavy Metal as their music of choice -- leading to a marionette mosh pit and at least one parent running away with their child.
As if seeing the 'Tallica boys crisscross apple sauce on the studio floor playing with puppets wasn't enough, Metallica also performed a crippling, close to 9-minute version of the fan-favorite, 1986 single.
Check out both clips above. Metallica's 72 Seasons is set to hit shelves and streaming services on April 14 (preorders available now) with a world tour kicking off soon after on April 27.
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Plus, don't miss the band performing at this year's Power Trip festival in the California desert October 6-8 along with AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and more. Tickets and further details HERE.
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