"Moth into Flame"
Single by Metallica
from the album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
ReleasedSeptember 26, 2016
GenreThrash metal
Length5:50
LabelBlackened
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)James Hetfield
Producer(s)Greg Fidelman
Metallica singles chronology
"Hardwired"
(2016) 		"Moth into Flame"
(2016) 		"Atlas, Rise!"
(2016)

"Moth into Flame" is a song by heavy metal band Metallica and the second single from their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct. The song debuted during the band's appearance on The Howard Stern Show on September 26, 2016, with the official music video being uploaded to the band's official YouTube page hours later.[1] The song made its live debut at Webster Hall on September 27, 2016, the 30th anniversary of former bassist Cliff Burton's death.[2]

The song was used as the official theme song for American television company TBS's ELeague, for both the second season of the program and the ELeague Counter-Strike Major.[3] Metallica performed the song with Lady Gaga at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017, which was fraught with difficulties as Hetfield's microphone was not functional for almost half of the performance. Hetfield threw down his guitar in anger as the band left the stage.[4] With permission from the Grammys and CBS, both artists were allowed to upload the rehearsal performance, which did not include any technical difficulties, as well as a "fixed" version of the original performance, which included the soundboard recording mixed in with the broadcast version.[5][6][7]

Background

James Hetfield stated that Amy Winehouse had served as inspiration for the song after he had watched the 2015 documentary film Amy. "The song was somewhat inspired by the Amy Winehouse documentary, 'Amy'. When I watched it, it really made me sad that a talented person like that fell for the fame part of it. But, to some degree, I see that mentality reflected in daily lives".[8]

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Moth into Flame"
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Canada Digital Songs (Billboard)[9] 43
Canada Rock (Billboard)[10] 23
France (SNEP)[11] 200
Hungary (Single Top 40)[12] 15
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[13] 32
Scotland (OCC)[14] 86
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[15] 91
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[16] 8
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] 15
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[18] 15

References

  1. ^ "Watch Metallica Thrash in New 'Moth Into Flame' Video". Rolling Stone. 26 September 2016.
  2. ^ "2016-09-27 New York, NY - Metallica". Metallica. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  3. ^ "Metallica Provides Theme Song For ELEAGUE Major 2017". Local POV. 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  4. ^ Holub, Christian (February 12, 2017). "Lady Gaga got a tattoo to prepare for her Grammys performance with Metallica". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "Watch Metallica's "Moth into Flame" Grammy Performance Without Mic Issues". Rolling Stone. 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Lady Gaga, Metallica - Moth Into Flame (Dress Rehearsal for the 59th GRAMMYs)". Lady Gaga Vevo.
  7. ^ "How It REALLY Sounded – Metallica, Lady Gaga/"Moth Into Flame" (Live at the 59th GRAMMYs)". Metallica TV.
  8. ^ "James Hetfield: How Amy Winehouse Inspired Metallica on Our New Album". November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  9. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  11. ^ "Metallica – Moth into Flame" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  12. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "Paramore Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. September 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "Metallica – Moth into Flame". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  17. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
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