Metallica Cover Songs

Metallica Cover Songs - Other bands songs that Metallica have covered

Metallica have always been keen on playing other bands music and as a result there are many tracks both recorded and played live that are available to the Metallica fan who wants everything. This is a guide to the various cover's Metallica have recorded and played live. Underneath each set of tracks is the release they were originally available on. With the release of Garage Inc. it has made getting the cover versions very easy, this album contains all 27 cover versions recorded up to 1999. Before the release of Garage Inc. you would have to buy sometimes at high cost, all the singles with cover version B-Sides from the bands back catalog of releases.

First Covers

Killing Time -Original: Sweet Savage - "Take No Prisoners" single 1981 (Campbell, Bates, Flemming, Haller) -Metallica recorded this track the same year as Sweet Savage for their first "demo tape". (This was actually a recorded practice session and not a properly recorded demo tape) They recorded a new version in 1991 that is available on the B-side to "The Unforgiven" single.
Let It Loose -Original: Savage (Bradley, Dawson) - recorded March 82 for their first "demo tape" (This was actually a recorded practice session and not a properly recorded demo tape)

Studio Covers

Am I Evil? -Original: Diamond Head - "Lightning to the Nations" 1980 (Tatler, Harris) -Recorded by Metallica in March 1984 this track was released along with Blitzkrieg titled "Garage Days Re-Visited" as the B-side of the Creeping Death EP. The tracks are also available on the 12 track "Kill 'Em All" album and the Whiplash EP. You will find a live version in the "Live Shit Binge and Purge" CD and video box set and on most of the bootleg Metallica shows as this is probably their most played cover live.
Blitzkrieg -Original: Blitzkrieg - "Buried Alive single" single 1981 (Jones, Smith, Sirotto) -Recorded by Metallica in March 1984 this track was released along with Blitzkrieg titled "Garage Days Re-Visited" as the B-side of the Creeping Death EP. The tracks are also available on the 12 track "Kill 'Em All" album and the Whiplash EP.
Available on


Creeping Death EP	Whiplash EP	Kill 'Em All 12 Track Album


Helpless -Original: Diamond Head - "Lightning to the Nations" 1980 (Tatler, Harris) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
The Small Hours -Original: Holocaust - "Holocaust Live - Hot Curry and Wine" EP (Holocaust) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
The Wait -Original: Killing Joke - "Killing Joke" 1980 (Killing Joke) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
Crash Course in Brain Surgery -Original: Budgie - "Budgie" 1971 (Shelley, Bourge, Phillips) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP
Last Caress -Original: The Misfits - "Beware" EP 1978 (Danzig) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP. You will find a live version in the "Live Shit Binge and Purge" CD and video box set and on most of the bootleg Metallica shows as this is one of their most played live covers.
Green Hell -Original: The Misfits - "Earth A.D." 1983 (Danzig) -Recorded July '87 for the Garage days EP

Available On


Garage Days Re-Re Visited

The Prince -Original: Diamond head - "Lightning to the Nations" 1980 (Tatler, Harris) -Recorded in 1989 and released on the US version of the "One" single, the European version of the "Harvester of Sorrow" single and as a bonus track on the Japanese "...And Justice For All" album.
Breadfan -Original: Budgie - "Never turn your back on a Friend" 1973 (Bourge, Shelley, Phillips) -Recorded in 1989 and released on the US version of the "Eye of the Beholder" single, the European version of the "Harvester of Sorrow" single, and the "One" single from Japan

Available on


Harvester of Sorrow	Eye of the Beholder	...And Justice For All

Stone Cold Crazy -Original: Queen - "Sheer Heart Attack" 1974 (Mercury, May, Taylor, Deacon) -Recorded in 1991 for "Rubaiyat" Elektra's 40th Anniversary compilation. The track is also available on the B-side of the "Enter Sandman" single. You will find a live version in the "Live Shit Binge and Purge" CD and video box set.
Killing Time -Original: Sweet Savage - "Take No Prisoners" single 1981 (Campbell, Bates, Flemming, Haller) -Recorded in 1991 for the B-Side of "The Unforgiven" single. See the First Covers section above to read about the first version of Killing Time they recorded.
So What -Original: The Anti-Nowhere League - "Streets of London" single 1981 (Exalt, Culmer) -Recorded in 1991. Available on the B-Side of the "Sad But True" single and as bonus track on the Japanese version of the "Black album"

Available on

Enter Sandman	The Unforgiven	Sad But True

Overkill -Original: Motorhead - "Overkill" 1979 (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor) -Recorded live direct to two-track at the Plant Studios in Sausalito on December 13th 1995 during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whiskey A Go-Go, Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the hero of the day single.
Damage Case -Original: Motorhead - "Overkill" 1979 (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor, Farren) -Recorded live direct to two-track at the Plant Studios in Sausalito on December 13th 1995 during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whiskey A Go-Go, Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the hero of the day single.
Stone Dead Forever -Original: Motorhead - "Bomber" 1979 (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor) -Recorded live direct to two-track at the Plant Studios in Sausalito on December 13th 1995 during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whiskey A Go-Go, Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the hero of the day single.
To Late, Too Late -Original: Motorhead - "Overkill" single 1979 (Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor) -Recorded live direct to two-track at the Plant Studios in Sausalito on December 13th 1995 during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whiskey A Go-Go, Los Angeles. Available on the B-side of the hero of the day single.

Available on

	Hero of the Day

Free Speech for the Dumb -Original: Discharge - "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" 1982 (Morris, Wainwright, Molaney, Roberts) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
It's Electric -Original: Diamond Head - "Lightning to the Nations" 1980 (Tatler, Harris) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Sabbra Cadabra -Original: Black Sabbath - "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" 1973 (Black Sabbath) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Turn the Page -Original: Bob Seger - "Back in '72" 1973 (Seger) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Die, Die my Darling -Original: Misfits - "Die, Die my Darling" 1984 single (Danzig) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Loverman -Original: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Let Love In" 1994 (Cave) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Mercyful Fate medley -Featuring Satan's Fall, Curse of the Pharaohs, A Corpse Without Soul, Into The Coven and Evil. -Original: Merciful fate "A Corpse Without Soul" originally released in 1982 on the "Mercyful Fate" EP all other songs originally released in 1983 on the "Melissa" album (Shermann, Diamond) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Astronomy -Original: Blue Oyster Cult - "Secret Treaties" 1974 (S. Pearlman, A. Bouchard, J. Bouchard) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Whiskey in the jar -Original: Thin Lizzy - released by Thin Lizzy in 1972 as a UK single (Traditional) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.
Tuesday's Gone -Original: Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd" 1973 (Collins, Van Zandt) -Recorded by Metallica and friends December 18th 1997 from the "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" radio special.
The More I See -Original: Released by Discharge in 1984 as a single (Morris, Wainwright, Molaney, Roberts) -Recorded 98 for the Garage Inc.

Available on

Garage Inc.

Commando -Original: Ramones - "Leave Home" 1977 (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose.
Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World -Original: Ramones - "The Ramones" 1976 (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose.
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue -Original: Ramones - "The Ramones" 1976 (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose.
Cretin Hop -Original: Ramones - "Rocket To Russia" 1977 (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose.
We're A Happy Family -Original: Ramones - "Rocket To Russia" 1977 (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose.
53RD & 3RD -Original: Ramones - (Jeffrey Hyman, John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, Thomas Erdelyi) -Recorded and mixed at HQ San Rafael, California December 2002. Metallica were asked to appear on the Ramones tribute album this was one of the six songs that Metallica originally chose and was their final choice for the album. This track is only available on the Ramones tribute - We're a Happy Family.
Available on

We're a Happy Family	St. Anger single