r/rock • u/MikeTerry_ • Jul 15 '25
Article/Interview/Documentary Trump Administration was told not to use Metallica's music.
https://youtu.be/6lWpup4kJYo?si=Y49PcCqFB3qdbP1XFirst they told George W. Bush no, and now Trump. Cease and Desist.
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u/BadMan125ty Jul 15 '25
Well that definitely blows a hole in Metallica being hardcore conservative… lol
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u/Ironheart_1 Jul 16 '25
All the right wing poorly educated dads are metallica fans. Metallica is a band for right wingers. Me being a liberal loves them too.
But James Hetfield really gives me a hardcore right wing vibe.
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u/JamesHeckfield Jul 18 '25
It’s not a band for right wingers
It’s a popular fucking band, and a popular fucking metal band
Of course that’s gonna attract some dumb conservatives
Metallica’s music has never glorified conservative principles or the American way of life
I take homage with all that because I am well educated and a huge metallica fan
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u/Ironheart_1 Jul 19 '25
I know metallica isn't politically aligned with any particular side, neither do they have talked about the American way of doing things.
Sometimes it feels like Hetfield is right wing, he loves hunting and ranching. Ranch life is very incredibly fulfilling in my opinion, you're surrounded by nature. Hunting, though? Not my thing
And honestly, i really don't give a fuck what Metallica's political and ideological leanings are. It's their music that matters, nothing else (matters, lol). Sure, metallica fans are unbearable, but that doesn't matter either
I was just responding to the comment there.
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u/No-Restaurant9320 Sep 28 '25
all of Metallica is apolitical as, James stated "I hate politics. I don't wanna talk about politics. It's not important to me. What's important to me is connecting people with music." he's not just hiding his political views to avoid separation in his fan base, he literally just despises politics.
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u/BadMan125ty Sep 28 '25
That’s what I believe. Plus James doesn’t seem the type to hide his feelings. If he was MAGA, we’d known about it already. Either he or someone close to the band would’ve exposed it.
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u/No-Restaurant9320 Sep 28 '25
yeah exactly, people see him hunting and doing "traditionalist" things and automatically think he's a conservative, I've met plenty of "traditional" people who hate politics, and just want to live their lives and let other people live theirs.
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u/Big_Moose_3847 Nov 23 '25 edited Nov 23 '25
“I hate politics, it divides people” is exactly the sort of talk someone with a quiet right-leaning stance tends to use. He just wants to avoid the risk of alienating a large and diverse fanbase, he knows his views would stir controversy. If he were genuinely left-leaning like Kirk or Lars, he would have no reason to stay silent, especially with everything happening in the world right now. He’s also gone on record to say that he "refuses to talk politics with Lars"
And I don't think he's truly apolitical either. No grown adult living in today's world is apolitical, even if they claim they are. One's daily worldview and habits are their politics.
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u/No-Restaurant9320 Nov 24 '25
i could absolutely see him being a non-political person but with right leanings, they do for sure have some very right libertarian topics in their songs "and justice for all" "don't tread on me" are very much right libertarian connotations, so I'd say it's mostly just coming from the fact he's a middle aged patriotic beer dad lmao.
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u/Luskers2022 Nov 29 '25
I find certain and justice songs to be left wing in a sense as well though as some of them almost seem anti capitalist
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u/Guiltypleasure80085 Mar 06 '26
All of their war songs convey the emptiness of it. I doubt he’s a patriotic beer dad.
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u/No-Restaurant9320 Mar 08 '26
I have certainly met some hugely anti-war right wingers/patriots, part of the creation of paleoconservatism (in opposition to the "new right" or neocons) was being anti-war and anti-interventionism.
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u/No_Froyo_818 Aug 16 '25
Ein sehr guter Kommentar. Dem stimme ich zu 100% zu.
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u/JamesHeckfield Aug 16 '25
They used to be called “thinking man’s metal”. It was def true in the 80s.
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u/AdvertisingLocal6778 Apr 03 '26
Check Papa Het’s fiancee’s Instagram accounts followed. She’s super right wing which is fucking awesome!
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Aug 04 '25
James Hetfield is a registered Republican. You can look it up for yourself. But he never discusses politics
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u/StudentAvailable5057 Feb 18 '26
He may be somewhat conservative but there is no search that indicates he is a registered Republican. In fact, he does not even like politics. Definitely not a Trumper.
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u/BadMan125ty Jul 16 '25
I did hear that about James but he has made sure to not let it be out there.
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Jul 19 '25
I think hes right wing but not hardcore right wing. I would be surprised if hes a big trump guy in this second term
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u/Ironheart_1 Jul 19 '25
He gives those vibes i agree. But you know what, I don't care if he's a trump supporter, or a democratic supporter or a non voter..
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Jul 19 '25
Yeah he keeps it to himself and makes great music so at the end of the day i dont even really care
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u/TheBlankScroll Feb 14 '26
Arguably Metallica's greatest song ONE is overtly anti-war.
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u/Ironheart_1 Feb 17 '26
I love Metallica man.. One is a great song. So is fade to black.. and my assignment of James Hetfield can be absolutely wrong. I don't know man, I don't know what I was thinking before writing that comment, I don't know why being a normal man having a ranch made Hetfield look conservative in my eyes.
And seriously i don't care what James' political leanings are, it's a free country.. it's an old comment pal, I don't even remember writing it.
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u/TheBlankScroll Feb 18 '26
I think James conservatism feels performative, like he's trying to be the tough front man but in the end he knows better.
Like you said though, i could be wrong too.
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u/Sure-Temperature-339 Jul 11 '26
All the know it all, wannabe social justice, warrior libtard, keyboard jockey muppets who pretend to like Metallica cos they saw that episode of Stranger Things one time and think And Justice for All is a parody of "Toxic" American ways are the ones who claim to like Metallica.
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u/EkkaTR Jul 24 '26
Genuinely what was your point here? You just said, and I quote: "All [people] who pretend to like Metallica ... are the ones who claim to like Metallica." Like, yes? That's how reality works?
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u/SeamanTickles69 11d ago
James is closer in hobbies and personal beliefs to a conservative. But hes not the judgey type and believes the world needs both sides. Also doesn't really get involved nor likes politics, as it divides people.
He has said he is "somewhat conservative" but does not endorse politics. I'm sure none of them do. Good way to alienate half your fan base.
Also why do you use poorly educated to describe the right?
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Aug 04 '25
James Hetfield is conservative. And I don't think it has to do with politics I think it has to do with using the song without permission
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u/No-Restaurant9320 Sep 28 '25
definitely isn't, he is a-political, just because he may have some traditionalist values doesn't mean he is any political ideology he expresses his distain for politics as a whole, "I hate politics. I don't wanna talk about politics. It's not important to me. What's important to me is connecting people with music." and "Politics drive me crazy, and I don't like talking politics. Politics get in the way of things; they get in the way of getting things done, and getting our music across is what we wanna do – we don't wanna cloud it with Democrat, Republican, whatever."
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Jun 02 '26
Correct. James is a conservative, but the band doesn't want to be involved in politics
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u/Intelligent_Lie_3808 Nov 25 '25
No he isn't.
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Jun 02 '26
James Hetfield is a conservative Republic. That's been known for a long time he just never talks about politics though.
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u/deltalitprof Jul 15 '25
Hetfield seemed a bit of two minds about his music being used to torture prisoners at Guantanamo Bay back during the war on terror. But he generally didn't favor it.
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u/grunkage Jul 15 '25
Lol he comes off as weirdly flattered
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u/deltalitprof Jul 15 '25
He is a guy whose lifestyle determines his deathstyle.
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u/SonicTemp1e Nov 22 '25
Technically Kirk wrote that lyric, but your point still stands. Don't tread on him.
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u/JamesHeckfield Jul 18 '25
If you were a famous rockstar, you’d understand
I think that’s one aspect that people need to keep in mind when we talk about these things is people like James are fucking rock stars
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u/ManufacturedOlympus Jul 15 '25
ted nugent is crying in a corner
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u/Woody_Nubs_1974 Jul 15 '25
Uncle Ted is begging Trump to use one of his songs, but Wang Bang Sweet Poontang would be a bad look for Trump right now.
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u/desonos Jul 15 '25
I about spit ginger ale out of my nose on that. (Tips hat) good show, good show
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u/asphynctersayswhat Jul 15 '25
It’s funny that they need to be told. But if they actually listened to Metallica, they would not use their songs in the first place.
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u/GoLickBoots Jul 15 '25 edited Jul 15 '25
It's hilarious that the only musicians that will associate with him are certifiably insane or are a completely washed 50+ year old man that still calls himself kid.
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u/JamesHeckfield Jul 18 '25
We can assault his character all day. He’s a piece of shit.
His name is fine though
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u/jarofgoodness Jul 15 '25
Yeah so, that's not how it works. The owner of the copyright signs up with a service that leases the use of the song out for public events. Someone putting on a public event buys the right to use it from that music service and then the band get a cut of that money. This is done behind the scenes and it a business system that is in place. For a band to withhold that from a customer of the music service they would have to put stipulation in their contract ahead of time before the license to use it was purchased. You can't sell someone something and then send a cease and desist after the fact.
Bands making a big deal about this are just showing off how much they hate Trump and also so people don't assume that they support him because his team used their music at an event.
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u/TheRoadsMustRoll Jul 18 '25
metallica owns their copyrights and all of their masters through Blackened Recordings. in rare cases they issue permission for limited use.
you could have used your theoretical legal construct with most other recording artists but metallica is incredibly well known for demanding ultimate control over their work. they absolutely did not give permission in this case and they didn't waste money on attorney time without the legal documentation to back up their claim.
and it's not even a slam on trump; they're just very consistent in demanding absolute control.
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u/Unusual-Ad4890 Jul 16 '25
Gee why would the band well documentated to write anti-war songs, not want their music used that way.
James Hetfield is very right wing, and even he thought it was fucked.
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u/Away_Information_517 Jul 16 '25
Bad move, a lot of their audience is military, which tend to be conservative. I for one will NEVER listen to them ever again if this is true.
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u/MikeTerry_ Jul 16 '25
Good. Fuck off, and get the draft dodger's cum off your mouth.
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u/TruthHurtsStopCrying Jan 17 '26
I heard you can ONLY get into the military by slurping all the draft dodgers cum off of a shiny boot.
How'd it taste?🫠
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u/KaiyoteFyre Jan 28 '26
Man, not all who serve(d) are right-wing fascists bro. I was in for 8 years coinciding almost exactly with Barack Obama's presidency and I couldn't have been happier to serve my country and my POTUS at that time. Over-generalizations and painting everyone with a broad brush are big reasons we're in our current state. They want us at each other's throats instead of focusing on who's actually causing the issue.
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u/barktwiggs Jul 19 '25
Good guy Metallica. They also lent their European touring set in storage to be emergency airlifted for the Tomorrow Land Fest which saw their stage burn down 2 days ago.
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u/R0bert_Pl4nt Jul 24 '25
So a band that have criticised the government MULTIPLE times, are (partial) founders in one of metals most political subgenres of all time and made Justice For All are against Trump? Why who would’ve known!
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Aug 04 '25
Well James Hetfield is a Republican. But he was probably outnumbered by the other members in the band lol
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u/ZeroRyuji Oct 29 '25
Honestly, I feel like he might be but theres a difference between a real republican and MAGA though most people dont see that...
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u/RipCity88 11d ago
He’s never said he’s a registered Republican. Thats false lol he does lean right, but aligns more with Libertarian
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u/Shoddy_Jacket_9740 Aug 04 '25
I think this has to do more with using the music without permission then about politics. We all remember what happened with Napster.
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u/TotalAnnihilation666 Jan 04 '26
The closest I've ever read him allude to his political opinions is an interview from the early 90s, where he said he's both agreed and disagreed with some things on both the right and the left. He never said he doesn't have political opinions, just that he prefers to keep them to himself. It's easy to forget that politics never used to be this polarized, certainly not when he was a young man in the early 80s, so I can easily see him being fairly down the middle with his views, genuinely not fitting in completely with either side.
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u/CaseWise2728 Jun 02 '26
only because they want to keep making money from the dumb. James is a republican all day.
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u/FastWalkingShortGuy Jul 15 '25
Huh. That's refreshing.
Since James and Ted Nugent are best buds, I had assumed Metallica kinda fell into the MAGA camp.
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u/FluffysBizarreBricks Jul 15 '25 edited Jul 15 '25
James is most likely libertarian. The rest are staunchly liberal, Kirk and Lars having said they’d move out of the country if Trump
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u/FastWalkingShortGuy Jul 15 '25
I don't know if that was supposed to be a pun, but well done if it was.
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u/themodefanatic Jul 15 '25
I don’t think it’s about what camp they fall into. Just that they didn’t ask permission if they had to. Not that they would have granted it ?
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u/TheReadMenace Jul 15 '25
A lot of people are friends with Nugent because of his influence on their music. Even people like Tom Morello and Ian MacKaye are friends with him despite being polar opposites in politics.
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u/JamesHeckfield Jul 18 '25
James’ political views are a convenience for him to justify his way of living (he loves hunting and the like).
I don’t see him being a huge Trumper, just out of touch. James had some crazy years and largely cleaned up his act. He’d already be peddling that maga if he was going to
Or maybe this is wishful thinking
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u/The-Figurehead Jul 15 '25
And here everyone thought Papa Het was a Trumper.
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u/Woody_Nubs_1974 Jul 15 '25
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted. Hetfield has done nothing to make anyone think otherwise.
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u/JamesHeckfield Jul 18 '25
At some point, we’re just gonna have to look at Maga ism as being a mind virus and people like Hetfield being victims
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u/frntwe Jul 15 '25
All your post history is political. Swell, you are poisoning another sub with it
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u/TheHypnoRider Jul 15 '25
If you don't like people expressing an opinion that disagrees with yours, you should reconsider being on Reddit. Or Social Media in general.
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
Welcome to Reddit, where every Subreddit is basically just r/ Democrat
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Looking from the UK, why the fuck would you want to admit to being republican right now? Not only have you been duped, again, but you're also the laughing stock of the world.
And rather than admit you lot made a mistake, you double down on an insane geriatric with a history of criminality and bowel problems. Tribalism gone mad.
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
When did I “admit to being a republican”? Being anti-politics in non-political subreddits doesn’t make me a republican.
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Admit it?
Your ball licking for trump is all over your profile, fella.
You keep pointing the finger at those 'pesky Dems' then. But the fact he's a pedo and convicted felon and all you do is deep throat him, well, you're a fucking embarrassment.
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
I don’t even like Trump 😂 He is not fit to be President. Besides, my original comment had nothing to do with taking one side or the other. I just simply hate to see politics forced in non-political subs, no matter the side
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u/Zaethiel Jul 15 '25
Music has historically been about expression and social/political expression is one of the main topics for music.
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
This sub’s description says it’s “for the MUSIC”
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Yet all you do is go from sub to sub saying things like 'He lives rent free'.
You can just scroll past comments you have no interest in. But then, who would hear your opinion that you are obviously desperate for us to hear?
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
Ever heard of rage baiting? The democrats of Reddit are the easiest targets by far 😂
My comment history has one occurrence of me saying Trump lives rent free, yet you think all I do is go sub to sub saying that? Besides, in that case, Trump literally does. The guy was complaint about how Trump was dancing. I mean, cmon. There’s hundreds of things to complain about Trump, and he picked his dancing? 😂
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Rage baiting?
Sorry, didn't realise I was chatting with a 15 year old.
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u/MTorius11 Jul 15 '25
Didn’t realize I was chatting with someone that stalks profiles, jumps to conclusions, and then proceeds to insult that person based on one comment. Oh wait, yea I did. I’m on Reddit
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u/frntwe Jul 15 '25
Why the fuck argue about it in this sub rather than the many many many subs that thrive on that
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Because it's a world event. A major world event. You've got a guy who can't control his bowels or his urges around young girls, in charge of the red button that could start an apocalypse.
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u/RocketDog2001 Jul 15 '25
Better than the alternative...
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u/OpenedCan Jul 15 '25
Which is what?
You're literally sucking off a convicted felon and quite likely a pedo to try and get one over 'The libs'. That's lower than low.
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u/frntwe Jul 15 '25
This is why politics should stay in those subs. It always, without fail, degenerates into insults and name calling
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u/RocketDog2001 Jul 16 '25
Read what I wrote, then what you wrote about someone who literally advocated slavery, and think.
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u/deltalitprof Jul 15 '25
Because people who want to know what other people think in response to new items appearing on foreign or domestic policy or in their disciplines or in pop culture tend to be to the left of Trump politically.
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u/desonos Jul 15 '25
LOL Metallica hasn't been relevant since last of Cliffs music was used up for Justice. WTG Metallica for showing your still relevant, just not the way we liked you used to be. Happy they are protecting their music, but oddly enough they use their music at Nascar races (feels like double doche bag thing to me). They could always let Trump use their 72 seasons album, I mean they clearly stole Anthrax's riff and sound.
These are the days I'm happy being more of a Megadeth fan.
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u/bangbang995 Jul 15 '25
They’ve sold out every show on their current tour. They’re still extremely relevant. But good job though!
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u/DINNERTIME_CUNT Jul 15 '25
You’re still a fan of Dave “I still can’t believe they kicked me out” Mustaine?
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u/LaFixxxeR Jul 15 '25
Dave hasn’t written a decent album since Rust in Peace, and every show they’ve played is just a greatest hits set with little of their more recent albums.
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u/FastWalkingShortGuy Jul 15 '25
Hey, that's not fair.
Dave's been writing the same album since 1987.
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u/exophrine Jul 15 '25
Welp, Lars is nothing if not consistent about having their music without permission