Metallica Says It’s Not ‘Sparkly’ Enough For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Just imagine it: Metallica rocking the Super Bowl Halftime Show in San Francisco, Metallica’s old stomping ground, while the crowd goes wild and everyone gets pumped for the last half of Super Bowl 50.

If it sounds to good to be true to all metalheads, then it most certainly is. While it might have made sense to fans to give the honor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show to Metallica instead of Coldplay, Bruno Mars, and Beyoncé, James Hetfield of Metallica does not seem to mind.

According to Loudwire, Hetfield appreciates the wide base of Metallica fans. It’s definitely not uncommon for someone to love pop but to know the lyrics of classic Metallica songs. But Hetfield knows that the Super Bowl Halftime Show contains an essence that can be captured from some good musicians, just not from his band.

“The fan base is really wide, but as far as playing halftime for the Super Bowl, I have a feeling that ship has passed. We’re not a variety show. We’re not pop. We’re not sparkly and all that kind of stuff that I think seems to be what is needed for that.”

While it may be true that Metallica is not a “variety show” or “sparkly,” Metallica knows how to rock a stadium better than most. Fans were happy to know that they wouldn’t entirely lose out while Metallica was in town, because Metallica played a show the night before Super Bowl 50.

The Night Before concert on Saturday at AT&T Park was an opportunity for Metallica fans to blow their vocal chords singing along to Metallica classics like “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman.”

Just being a part of the Super Bowl festivities at one of Metallica’s old homes was enough for Hetfield, even if it wasn’t during the halftime show.

Blabbermouth stated that Metallica has been involved with some sports in the area by playing at AT&T Park over the past three years by turning up for San Francisco Giants games for “Metallica Night.” Last year, the band brought the successful “Metallica Night” to a San Jose Sharks hockey game in the South Bay.

“It’s great to be hosting the thing. It would be great if my team was in it,” Hetfield nodded to his team, the Oakland Raiders. “But having the city come alive with any kind of sport is great. The fact that we’re here getting to represent Bay area music at The Night Before is pretty exciting.”

Since Metallica isn’t on tour right now, the lead singer joked about the set list, according to ABC News.

“All covers, no. All Coldplay, not even that, no. We’re going to be doing probably a best of, you know, when you’re in a situation like this. You know stadium, catchy, bouncy, and heavy, which we do.”

Metallica opened with a video which stated to the crowd, “Metallica: Too Heavy For Halftime.”

Fans were able to watch the concert for free by streaming online on their computers and mobile devices. Those who wanted professionally mixed audios of the concert could order them online.

During the concert, Metallica fans were excited to hear that Metallica is nearing the end of completing a new album, which could be out soon. The lead singer stressed that he did not want fans to get their hopes up for an immediate release for a new album.

Cage The Elephant also performed with Metallica at the concert in San Francisco.

[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment]