Metallica - Blitzkrieg - Canada - 1986

[@alexunderhill7445]

Legend has it that James's downpick is the only thing Chuck Norris is afraid of.

[@doodoobonejones]

Chuck Norris invented alcohol because James was getting too powerful.

[@Natures..Sacrifice]

im dead

[@goldenwolf8081]

@@doodoobonejoneseven when he was drunk James just downpicked faster😂😂

[@doodoobonejones]

@@goldenwolf8081 They don't really talk about it, but it's pretty well known that Metallica was also on the nose-candy. The booger-sugar.

[@AndDeathForAll82]

Everyone is talking about James’ phenomenal downpicking. Don’t forget that Kirk is doing it too!

[@thrashssjgod]

^

[@hetfieldofjames5261]

I'm pretty sure he uses alternative picking whenever possible

[@prodbykomrebi]

Kirk doesnt always downpick

[@thrasher060606]

James wants to play that faster, kirk has to play test fast

[@froot6086]

kirk alternate picks

[@IMEANCEREAL]

You know when James takes off his shirt, they were gonna play a kickass finale at breakneck speed.

[@dangler1238]

Cocaine is a Helluva drug

[@IMEANCEREAL]

+Dangler 12 Beer is one helluva drink.

[@atstrategist]

+IMEANCEREAL cocabeer is one helluva cocktail

[@Allisonmarie567]

Hahaha so true! Lol

[@journeystarr]

@@dangler1238 hetfield never did coke, only Lars and Kirk

[@kylebatteson9572]

This is probably the time that James was really pissed off that Cliff wasn't here and decided to torture his band mates by playing faster.

[@metallicaman774]

Kyle Batteson They played fast probably cause they were angry and they were also probably putting Jason through a test xD

[@kylebatteson9572]

Ryan Thistle Well, that's another way of putting it, but Hetfield is the guy that ran the performance and pace during that time. I don't think Jason was that phased by the speed. Jason was a great bassist for Metallica since Cliff, even though others might disagree.

[@metallicaman774]

Yeah it would be awesome if Jason were still in the band. I think I like Jason a little more than Rob

[@kylebatteson9572]

Ryan Thistle I miss the backing vocals. I would have loved to have seen Jason give his musical input after the whole St. Anger councelling saga. What a shame because Jason has some pretty good riff ideas.

[@metallicaman774]

I loved his backing vocals too. And yeah his ideas were awesome. Cliff also had some excellent backing vocals, if you've seen some videos with him. They are just so powerful

[@finaljesus]

that is the fastest down picking i have ever seen james play it's like scary fast i love this song the faster the better lol

[@MKDumas1981]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[@evilestmonkeey]

Just cant downpick that fast...

[@metallicaman774]

Not trying to brag but I can down pick Blitzkrieg that fast. It's easier to down pick than Puppets for some odd reason

[@ahdbw8494]

I'm able to also. Puppets is hard though. Doesn't make sense to me either. Try trapped under ice. Hard too!

[@bandolierboy1908]

It's adrenaline that allows him to downpick that fast, and natural ability

[@Dyarmo710]

how did you learn to downpick that fast or even build up speed in general ?

[@bandolierboy1908]

TheDirtyDyo your wrists will naturally become stronger and faster over time, it took me about a month of practice every day for maybe 2-3 hours to master downpicking in the shortest amount of time I could

[@julesbonnot7357]

what a band... this was right after Cliff died... the band and Jason were back on stage to end the Puppets tour... saw them in Paris... February 5th, 1987... back with this incredible energy ! they played the whole set this fast and even faster sometimes... the crowd sang all the songs and guitar riffs from the Ecstasy of Gold intro till the very last note of Damage Inc. We all missed Cliff so very much on this day but we enjoyed Jason and welcomed him so loud that he and the band received enough good vibes for the next thousand years ! Long Live Metallica. So glad to live in a time when such bands tour and play \m/

[@crazyleftyguitarist]

Wow that's amazing

[@socialdef3]

" back with this incredible energy ! they played the whole set this fast and even faster sometimes..." cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[@george_2172]

That’s awesome seeing them back in the day on such an awesome tour like this one!

[@LaVacaLider]

James' downpicking is awesome

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

+LaVacaLider Kirk"s too ;)

[@cdrsimmons7300]

+LaVacaLider How did he do that...

[@andrewtschuta2627]

LaVacaLider He's a fucking maniac

[@bandolierboy1908]

Kirk doesn't downpick that fast, he doesn't have to hit EVERY note, James has that covered. However with James, it's hard to downpick at his speed at first, but once your hand is warmed up and the adrenaline starts flowing, downpicking is no issue at all.

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

SHUT UP ;)

[@yusegabr]

2:20 is why Hetfield is the down picking master.

[@SAARussian]

How much BPM?

[@user-el6lt8fr3x]

SAARussian there’s a comment on the full show saying that it’s 238 bpm

[@Zodasg]

The last song of the night as well, dude had been down picking for 2 and a half hours straight at that point

[@JoshSingleTon2]

I've never ever seen anyone downpick that intensely and fast for such amount of time in my life. Holy fucking shit!

[@ermonski]

MASTER!!!

[@ionpo8161]

when metallica indisputably were the best metal band on earth

[@lemmehollaratya9443]

Fuck yes, that explorer

[@metallicaman774]

That explorer is so awesome. That is my dream guitar haha. I already have a King V similar to the one he had

[@asron1294]

Ryan Thistle oh yeah i forgot he had a Gibson xD

[@AngelRDiaz-ie6ww]

agreed 100% (:

[@jpguitar34]

Were? They still are

[@jordancuspard6481]

omg James your a down picking monster 2:20

[@merciless2032]

Holy fuck that's brutal

[@SAARussian]

How much BPM?

[@springbloom5940]

The cocaine is big help.

[@petergosinya5211]

@@springbloom5940 was speed. Cranked up on the crystal

[@petergosinya5211]

Whole fucking song hes just hammering the shit out of it

[@gtrguitar4678]

1.500km/h ...max speed!

[@Brokenface]

400 bpm

[@SAARussian]

How much BPM?

[@crysata704]

2:20 OH MY FUCKING GOD, he is picking downstrokes faster than i can alternate pick... fuck

[@troypetrova4833]

That's even faster than fapping

[@MoccaLG]

well now u know the secret of "blitzkrieg" ;)

[@skeene_6824]

Yea why doesn't he alternate pick

[@loganhemphill-badger9855]

i didnt even know about alternative picking till like 5 years after playing so my downstrokes are pretty fast

[@MrVepe47]

Seank C1tikal5000 Different sound. Downpicking has more balls to it.

[@calebbartlett367]

That downpicking is Fucking GOD-LIKE :O

[@douglasaprile4101]

Caleb Bartlett up picking down picking it's amazing

[@popkorn256]

Is that the actual speed? That's amazing!

[@douglasaprile4101]

popkorn thanks just good

[@TailgunnerATC]

Metallica was nuts back then

[@goldenwolf2462]

This was when every almost Metallica song live was played over 200bpm

[@keepthemetalflowing]

I love the recorded version they did but man they just lit up the song in this performance! Fast, heavy, and just -perfect... and, like everyone else has remarked, James' down picking is downright lethal. RIP Cliff and long live Jason

[@sierra2gonzo]

No one can down pick as fast as Hetfield!!! And sing on top of that! The riff master..

[@АртемКомарь-ж4г]

2:20 heard something 'bout downpicking?

[@SAARussian]

How much BPM?

[@anusmcgee4150]

@@SAARussian Yes

[@SAARussian]

@@anusmcgee4150 Blyad

[@mazklassa9338]

It's off the charts.

[@user-di7re6fw1g]

Cocaine

[@bobsilver3983]

Metallica will be played by people 500 years from now....It will never by topped.

[@johhnycashmer798]

only by the people that topped it 500+ years earlier

[@MrOrcslayer]

I think back in the day Lars would get nervous and drum faster than normal. So everyone else had to learn to play majorly fucking fast.

[@topsecret1837]

MrOrcslayer Now that's irony. People say he sucks now because he's not as fast. Now you're complaining that he was TOO fast, which means...

[@ilovemusicnbabes1089]

Nah. Dude James starts this song before Lars does anything. James set the speed. Not Lars.

[@MrOrcslayer]

"Lars was always nervous on stage, so he'd play faster and faster. Nobody wanted to wimp out and tell him that he was playing too fast. We just figured, Hell, we'll just play faster too." -Jaymz Hetfield from Guitar World, August 1992.

[@blaketaylor4763]

Or he was jacked up on coke

[@DeathCovers]

@@MrOrcslayer funny thing is while that may have been true in the past, but these days apparently James has barely any drums in his monitors while Lars has plenty of James in his... ...in other words, James leads the rhythm, and Lars follows!

[@Peekadam]

Metallica is the greatest band to grace this earth, and forever will. No band will ever top Metallica when they were in their prime.

[@theamazing5047]

2:20 that downpicking speed, holy fucking shit lmao

[@TThatsWhatSheSaid1]

2:19 HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE

[@goldenwolf8081]

Practice by 100x for 3 and half years up to that point when the song was on kill em all Being drunk off the rocker Adrenaline Grief from cliff that made the whole band play as fast and with as much anger as possible probably to distract themselves from cliff’s death Starting to become the biggest metal band in the world and you know it Youth’ James was just 23 here I’m pretty sure That’s how it’s possible

[@anders2772]

Lars had good reasons for being nervous due to his attitude about rehearsal and being a musician. Actually he is just trying to keep up with the big4 drummers on a competitive level. Though he did showed some brilliance in the process.

[@Skidtire]

FUCKING LEGENDARY

[@condor.67]

the definitive live footage available here i guess

[@inbredbanana8156]

Watching James's hand at 2:20... Jesus Christ...

[@goldenwolf8081]

I still don’t know if James has at least a little bit of arthritis in his wrist or not playing that fast and hard I’m kinda convinced he does but downpicking for 2 hours or so every single show there’s no way after a few years my wrist wouldn’t be in constant pain like cliffs neck was from headbanging every night James in the 80s was a freak of nature!

[@ahorton6786]

Is that the actual speed? OMG James's down picking is amazing!

[@RockyPaul01]

NWOBHM band Blitzkrieg who produced the track which is being covered by Metallica here is a much underrated band. Same with Savage who were also covered by Metallica. Metallica learnt a lot from such bands I think.

[@Chuloloc]

Awesome. Classic tune. Hail Metallica and Blitzkrieg.

[@socialdef3]

They say James' picking hand has 989 horsepower.

[@fredhinojosa86]

I come back here every once in awhile to be reminded of how impossibly fast this is. I can play this song so I know that what he's doing is mind blowing.

[@nickyfingers691]

they really brought it to canada that night..

[@EarthMachineBand]

Personally, my favorite live performance by Metallica, EVERRR 🤘

[@MKDumas1981]

2:24 - Come Carpal Tunnel, baby!

[@fourorthree2]

amazing performance!!! I loved them as a kid and let that love go after '91 but honestly, this is great!!

[@carsonmyers3216]

James was going as fast as he could during Kirk's solo. I am convinced he's not human

[@goldenwolf8081]

I’m pretty sure that’s the fastest downpicking anyone has ever done on a guitar ever! The only way that’s possible is mainly adrenaline.

[@shredwardscissorjamz7846]

Sooo fast....sooo good!

[@BillKilmerslayer]

How did people not know this by now: Lars follows Jaymz on most songs from the first 4. They've said it themselves. I read it in several interviews back in the day. They're one of the few bands that do that. The Who being the most notable other one. They did day that both: In the early days, that all played as fast as they could keep it together. They were going for a new sound with a different energy. And yes, one they'd get going, Larz would often speed up, and they'd have to follow. Youth, nerves, macho, ambition, and coke.

[@DILKS100]

That is fast. Primal. Fucking rules.

[@SithisBanana]

one of the best solos ive ever heard

[@kanewwf13]

2:19 FUCK...

[@briancanning6688]

As soon as you are done listening to this live version. Listen to the newest performance of the song...they play it so slow now. :-(

[@chadleschasin2893]

I saw them on this tour in Canada , Metal Church opened for them …. Still have the Damage Inc. shirt and green pick !

[@MSL000]

My fav band with blitzkreig up there very good

[@sagemagdy]

back then when kirk was a beast !!

[@lrgtr]

@TheKaineRocks he`s not anymore

[@bandolierboy1908]

lrgtr matheu you can thank arthritis for that

[@VictimRattlehead]

James looks, sounds and plays like a beast.

[@guitargangster645]

is it just me or every song around this time james says see yah after ??

[@mistafista9685]

BrutallicA ....fuck yeah

[@elgerardoedwardio2498]

Holy shit this is a speedy version... they're all down-stokes as well...

[@erichgrunberg8396]

God, they played fast back then!!!! That speed is incredible!!!!

[@socialgarbage2]

I really miss this Metallica! \m/

[@ubiratha.barbosa]

great cover

[@mariopedroza7269]

Extraño a los viejos metallica , quiero o mas bien exijo un buen nuevo disco de quienes fueron mi banda favorita, de quienes fueron mi inspiración para dedicar gran parte de mi tiempo a practicar guitarra

[@SteelToes]

I saw them in '85/'86 at Cardi's in Houston... my hand on the stage.... 2 nights in a row. The 2nd night OZZY played at the Summit and Cardi's postponed the show until all of us got there to fill the club 😂 RIP Cliff 🙏 ... the most down to earth, 😎, mf'r, you could ever meet. James/Lars ....🖕

[@matiasmirandaarrredondo8231]

Newkid was fucking ready to rock that shit. The man born to be there after Cliff passed. What a legend, miss you Jason, Rip Cliff Burton.

[@SuHwanLee1]

I like all this sound...guitar...snare...vocie...kirk solo tone everything is worthwihile

[@mepz731]

James was a force of to be reckoned with.

[@talynsevenstar5781]

I miss the old Metallica

[@M249SAWzALL]

WTF? why are they playing that so damn fast?

[@johnlorentzen7678]

I play a lot faster when I'm playing a live gig. Be it nerves or whatever, but the fact that they're not sacrificing accuracy for speed here is pretty damned impressive.

[@kylebatteson9572]

Cliff died some time during the year. I think he was pissed. The bassist looks like a fresh Jason Newsted. I actually can't tell if that's Cliff or Jason though.

[@johnlorentzen7678]

Kyle Batteson yeah it's definitely Jason. He's picking the notes and Cliff always played fingerstyle.

[@Ju07841]

Because the original group Blitzkrieg shredded that song six years before and were just as fast by comparsion for their era. And yes it's Jason, Cliff had passed away a couple of months earlier R.I.P.

[@FreeMTrider]

Kyle Batteson Nah....like I said, they played it this fast with Cliff too. I saw it live a few times back then. All bands do it sometimes.

[@briansauer6695]

Damn! wish I'd gotten more into them in the early days! Was 13 in 1980 when all the good NWOBHM stuff was just coming to light, but, even though I was into EVERYTHING metal, I never got into Metallica, nor Saxon that much. Years later though, it was a nice blessing as I discovered more of the old stuff from both these bands which was like discovering new music! Saxon has become my favorite band, and Kill 'Em All is my favorite Metallica album. I loved the Garage Inc CD in which they covered a lot of other bands stuff and it was nice to here the B-side covers. Killing Time and Blitzkrieg are tops!

[@blueridger28]

Intense!!

[@christosmakris927]

Brazil vs Germany

[@angelcastillo1923]

Christos Makris This comment makes no fucking sense dude

[@floridianthrasher5426]

@@angelcastillo1923 it's been 5 years, no replies, i doubt this guy is even around.

[@metalhammer5]

@@angelcastillo1923 i guess he means Brazil got "blitzkrieg"ed by Germany in the 2014 World Cup.. Blitzkrieg means " lightning warfare" in German..

[@zzapzzap1102]

Hello, am I late in this conversation?

[@chaddavidroberts]

R.I.P. Mr. Burton

[@artzreal]

the best good looking guitar of all times

[@MetalMusicManiac]

1986 kids you won't know the 1980s we had 7 pound camcorders with VHS tapes where we could decide of SP LP or EP, that came with a giant battery we rested on our shoulder 😉

[@valraukardso7117]

And still made videos with higher quality than many other videos today lol

[@thomasackerly7732]

U got that right

[@christosyannios9321]

RIP Cliff

[@johnnunyabizzness6452]

this the same show the famous jason falls on his face clip came from? looks like the same stage set LOL

[@metallicaman774]

Hahahahah yeah it is, it's during For Whom The Bell Tolls XD

[@tobymags8025]

John Nunyabizzness it's not

[@briancanning6688]

They had the same stage setup for the whole tour. So every gig is gonna look the same.

[@MatthewHoag77]

To quote the studio recording, "Fuck up... one place."

[@Syclone0044]

Jesus christ thats ridiculous! Does anyone know if there are any interviews where James discusses his downpicking?

[@bcherbs]

so damn tight

[@daltonhagood5059]

Watching this gave me carpal tunnel and many many nightmares😂

[@Beez215]

Jesus ! I can keep up w the album down picking but this is fucking insane James

[@Traveler_86]

Какой же бешенный темп,я думал правая рука Хетфилда просто оторвется.В те года уже был такой высочайший уровень исполнения.Уважение ребятам!

[@metalupyourass9247]

Да я просто не понимаю как физически вообще возможно так играть. Я конечно понимаю что под 3 куболитрами пивка уже и боли не чувствуешь совсем, но так быстро да и еще в темп попадать, это адски, Джеймс зверь.

[@morbidsasquatch9640]

Dude the down picking skills are insane

[@South_Ga_mafia]

Love it.!!

[@oliverrimes9057]

The Greatest!

[@TheBoulette08]

La grande époque.........

[@fabiGBOtown]

you are awesome, ty for the upload

[@JahJahBruh]

Awesome and tight!

[@NewEnglandDirtRoadie]

oh how the mighty have fallen

[@niilonevalainen2884]

It's about 240 bpm

[@polamin]

This is faster than the original and it's awesome.

[@ajnemesis]

With alternate picking you can get there easy, but with down picking? pffftt good luck trying to keep up with that!

[@Ace0077]

@Camilo Almonacid and Mustaine and King and Ramone and Scott Ian and the list goes on ;)

[@RamonSky92]

Метал правит миром!!! Наикрутейшая песня.

[@av3nger3]

That looks like Jason...also notice the bassist's pick.

[@Salomon_G]

Notice that it's obviously Jason.

[@catdog57132]

is Jason was after Cliff's death that same year.

[@rhoadsmatheson2246]

Lars is thinking... "fuck James" Throughout this whole song!

[@1984craine]

Sick !

[@jayteeban1825]

The defining moment! Can the play any faster? They were the fuckin masters of their time.

[@aidanoconnell2214]

That's wild!!!

[@jagag1]

James was so badass at this time...

[@manuelmaccio2382]

This its the fucking good Metallica!!!! I miss they.

[@antonioflorgonza9173]

Dude was quick with the down pick.

[@boomdoom8671]

Such a shame that this was recorded in an empty paint can. James' voice was peak Thor in this performance. Does anyone else think this vocal style tops the 89' gigs?

[@jamesestrada82]

Yes, I do. This is when his vocals were much more raw.

[@bergg9681]

Absolutely

[@homerc9101]

Sounds nothing like Thor.

[@boomdoom8671]

@@homerc9101 i see, you've heard Thor's voice personally? That's amazing, bro.

[@homerc9101]

@@boomdoom8671 yes, i have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJ20q5eLZ9Bqnqs

[@HigorAlvs]

Metallicaaaaaaaa 🇧🇷

[@joshfreedman3239]

Intensity fast!!

[@J.F.K974]

Lars ulrich

[@lionwolf2797]

its sad to think that on the very same stage where jason stood cliff was there headbanging alive and healthy, and i meant no disrespect to jason he is an amazing bassist and a very cool guy

[@multyrighthanded]

edit the speed for this video?verry faster..

[@ckjamn]

Cover's ROCK!

[@Youboob99]

LOL LOOK AT 1986 Hetfield just being a completely fucking impossible badass. Ugh wish i could see this live