Metallica are the latest beneficiaries of the Stranger Things bump. The band’s 1986 song “Master of Puppets” has reached No. 40 the Billboard Hot 100, scaling the singles chart for first time since its release 36 years ago. The title track from their third studio album was recently featured in the season finale of Stranger Things’ fourth season. In one scene, metalhead Eddie Munson (played by Joseph Quinn) delivers the song’s shredding guitar solo while in the Upside Down.
Last week, Metallica shared a statement thanking Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer for featuring “Master of Puppets” so prominently in the show. “It’s an incredible honor to be such a big part of Eddie’s journey and to once again be keeping company with all of the other amazing artists featured in the show,” the band wrote on Instagram. The actual guitar solo performed on the episode was recorded by Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo.
The surge of new Metallica listeners follows the increased popularity of Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill,” which was featured as a motif throughout the fourth season of Stranger Things (it was also the favorite song of the character Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink).
Bush has issued a number of (typically rare) statements on the renewed success of the single, which shot to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first-ever top 10 single in the United States. “Running Up That Hill” had previously peaked at No. 30 upon its debut in 1985. The single also reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart.