In a groundbreaking moment for America's Got Talent, 11-year-old guitar prodigy Maya Neelakantan became the first artist ever granted permission by Metallica to perform one of their tracks on the show. During last week’s quarter-finals, Maya delivered a jaw-dropping rendition of ‘Master Of Puppets,’ blending her classical Indian music roots with the iconic thrash metal anthem.
In a pre-performance clip, Maya expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m the first act Metallica have ever given permission to play on AGT. I really want to make Metallica proud.” Her performance featured a unique twist as she tuned her electric guitar to emulate the sound of a sitar, earning high praise from the judges. Simon Cowell was particularly impressed, telling her, “You’re just one of these people who’s got a god-given talent… this is something you’ve got to do for the rest of your life because you’re so good at this.”
After the performance, Maya thanked Metallica and the family of Cliff Burton, the band’s late bassist, for their support in making her dream a reality.
Maya’s journey into the metal world has been a remarkable one. After her initial audition for AGT, she had the opportunity to learn from metal legends like Slayer's Gary Holt and Testament's Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson, who helped hone her guitar skills.
This performance not only marked a significant milestone for Maya but also underscored the continued cultural impact of Metallica. Last year, the band saw a resurgence in popularity among younger fans, thanks to the use of ‘Master of Puppets’ in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.
As Metallica’s Lars Ulrich noted, “There’s always been a coming-of-age element to our shows, and just look at the Stranger Things phenomena… all of a sudden, it introduced Metallica to a whole other set of younger people.”
With the release of their latest album ‘72 Seasons,’ Metallica continues to prove their relevance in the world of heavy metal. The album received positive reviews from music critics and topped the album charts in many countries.
Photo: NBC, Venla Shalin/Redferns
