Metallica were joined by Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler for a cover of the latter band’s classic “Am I Evil?” during Metallica’s headlining set at the Tons of Rock fest in Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday (June 26th).
It marked the first time Metallica have performed “Am I Evil?” on the “M72 Tour” (get tickets here) thus far, and the band made the most of the occasion by inviting one of the original songwriters onstage for the rendition.
“Say ‘Hi’ to Brian, Oslo!” announced frontman James Hetfield over the PA before declaring it “Flying V time,” in reference to Tatler’s axe of choice.
The founding Diamond Head guitarist got dibs on the iconic opening tritone riff while Hetfield and Kirk Hammett laid down the propulsive rhythmic chugs. They eventually all synchronized to form a triple guitar attack, guiding the nearly nine-minute song to its epic conclusion.
It’s a moment that should go down in the lore of Metallica and heavy metal in general. Diamond Head were arguably the most vital singular influence on Metallica’s sound on their early albums, particularly their 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All, with the band paying homage to its predecessors by famously covering “Am I Evil?” as a B-side for the “Creeping Death” single in 1984. Subsequent pressings of Kill ‘Em All would include the cover as a bonus track.
Because of the Metallica cover, “Am I Evil?” is far and away Diamond Head’s most popular and recognizable song. Tatler has called it the musical achievement he is “most proud of.”
“I suppose musically ‘Am I Evil?’, ’cause it’s such a big song and it’s just got a life of its own,” Tatler recently told XS Rock [as transcribed by Blabbermouth]. “So a song that was written in my bedroom in 1979 that’s gone around the world and is on millions of records and things like that.”
Meanwhile, Metallica continue to make their way across Europe as part of the globe-trotting “M72 Tour.” The thrash legends also have more US dates on the books for August and September (get tickets here).
Below you can watch fan footage of Diamond Head’s Brian Tatler joining Metallica for “Am I Evil?” in Oslo.