Metallica play Star-Spangled Banner, auction ESP guitars for charity

Metallica are big fans of the San Jose Sharks - the ice hockey team even skate onto the ice to the metal legends' Seek And Destroy - and last night, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett returned the favour, playing the US National Anthem ahead of the Stanley Cup Final game between the Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

As you can see above, it's a very Metallica rendition, replete with palm-muted chugs and wah-heavy leads, and what's more, James and Kirk are auctioning off the ESP guitars they played that night for charity.

You can bid on the ESP Vulture and KH signature models - which will be signed by all four members of Metallica - at NHL Auctions until 15 June; all proceeds go towards Little Kids Rock and the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford.

This isn't the first guitar-led rendition of the Anthem to make headlines this year, of course, as Flea's off-piste bass solo version at a recent LA Lakers game split opinion among critics and fans alike.

Michael Astley-Brown

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.