Metallica’s Lars Ulrich explains why the band let Stranger Things use Master Of Puppets

Virgin Radio

30 Nov 2022, 13:48

If you’re up to date with Netflix series Stranger Things, you’ll know how important Metallica’s song Master of Puppets is to the season four plot. Well, now drummer Lars Ulrich has explained why Metallica decided to allow the show to use the song.

The band - who have just announced a new album and tour - gained a new generation of fans following the inclusion of the 1986 single in the sci-fi show’s most recent season. Character Eddie Munson (spoiler alert) plays the song on guitar in the Upside Down to distract a horde of demonic bats who were set to kill his friends.

The iconic moment led to Master Of Puppets re-entering the UK top 40.

Speaking on The Howard Stern Show, the drummer said: “It used to be, with Metallica, we were always the ‘no’ guys. ‘Hey can we have this song for this? Can we have that song for that?…’ It was just no, no, no, no, no.”

He continued: “A few years ago we kind of reversed it. We did a 180. We just said, ‘You know what? This is stupid. Why are we hanging onto these songs like they’re so important, and like they’re the crown jewels or whatever?’ Let’s share our music with the world. So a couple of years ago we started saying yes to everything.”

Speaking about the approach from the Stranger Things’ bosses, the musician explained: “They wanted to build this whole scene around Master Of Puppets, and we said, ‘Of course’." 

Regarding the reaction to the song featuring in the show, he said: “We were so proud. I mean, who would’ve thought 40 years later that these songs could still have that impact? So we were psyched to be part of it, absolutely.”

This week, Metallica announced they are coming back with a brand new album, called 72 Seasons. The record will land over six years after the band’s last studio LP, Hardwired… To Self-Destruct, which dropped in November 2016.

To celebrate, the band are embarking on a massive world tour across 2023 and 2024, and will play two headline sets at Download Festival’s 20th anniversary event next year.