Moth into Flame
{{Infobox song
| name = Moth into Flame
| cover = Moth_into_flame.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Metallica
| album = Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
| released = September 26, 2016
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Thrash metal
| length = 5:50
| label = Blackened
| composer = {{hlist|James Hetfield|Lars Ulrich}}
| lyricist = James Hetfield
| producer = Greg Fidelman
| prev_title = Hardwired
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Atlas, Rise!
| next_year = 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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/watch-metallica-thrash-in-new-moth-into-flame-video-w441963|title=Watch Metallica Thrash in New 'Moth Into Flame' Video|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=26 September 2016 }} The song made its live debut at Webster Hall on September 27, 2016, the 30th anniversary of former bassist Cliff Burton's death.{{Cite web|url=https://metallica.com/tour/26050|title=2016-09-27 New York, NY - Metallica|website=Metallica|access-date=2016-10-13}}
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.{{Cite news|url=http://localpov.com/best-of/atlanta/metallica-eleague-major-2017/|title=Metallica Provides Theme Song For ELEAGUE Major 2017|date=2017-01-11|newspaper=Local POV|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-24}} 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.{{cite magazine|last=Holub|first=Christian|title=Lady Gaga got a tattoo to prepare for her Grammys performance with Metallica|url=http://ew.com/music/2017/02/12/grammys-2017-lady-gaga-tattoo-metallica/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=February 12, 2017|access-date=February 12, 2017}} 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.{{cite magazine |title=Watch Metallica's "Moth into Flame" Grammy Performance Without Mic Issues |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/watch-metallicas-moth-flame-grammy-performance-without-mic-issues |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=14 February 2017 }}{{cite web |title=Lady Gaga, Metallica - Moth Into Flame (Dress Rehearsal for the 59th GRAMMYs) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdxyVnJMg64 |website=Lady Gaga Vevo| date=3 March 2017 }}{{cite web |title=How It REALLY Sounded – Metallica, Lady Gaga/"Moth Into Flame" (Live at the 59th GRAMMYs) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfHhwfmzTQw |website=Metallica TV| date=3 March 2017 }}
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".{{cite web|title=James Hetfield: How Amy Winehouse Inspired Metallica on Our New Album|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/james_hetfield_how_amy_winehouse_inspired_metallica_on_our_new_album.html?ab_var=super_hot|date=November 5, 2016|access-date=November 6, 2016}}
Personnel
- James Hetfield – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
- Robert Trujillo – bass
- Lars Ulrich – drums