Metallica are no strangers to doing what they want, how they want, their way. Just like Sir Elton John.

Their illustrious career has seen them go from a garage thrash band to world domination; to playing with the symphony and now paying tribute to one of greatest duos in music history.

On Monday night, PBS aired the Gershwin Prize Ceremony (which actually took place March 20th) honoring Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The story of these two is nothing short of amazing. One could write music, but not lyrics, the other, lyrics but not words. Elton and Bernie came together like peanut butter and chocolate to create some of the most epic and influential music the world has been blessed with.

The ceremony saw Elton and Bernie’s songs performed by several legends; Annie Lennox, Joni Mitchell, Garth Brooks and of course, Metallica.

Metallica put their spin on “Funeral for a Friend” and “Love Lies Bleeding” and brought the house down. Much like watching their performance with the San Francisco Symphony years ago, it’s a delight to look out into a crowd that are likely not Metallica fans, and seriously enjoying a rather heavy version of these songs. Elton and Bernie or course had front row seats and loved every moment of the eight minute performance, even leading the crowd in a standing ovation.

 

This is so good, I now want Metallica to do an entire record of Elton covers.

Since 2007, the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize is awarded each year to a composer or performer (in this case, both) in recognition of their lifetime contributions to popular music.

“I’ve been writing songs with Bernie for 56 years, and we never thought that that one day this might be bestowed upon us,” John said of the Gershwin Prize. “It’s an incredible honor for two British guys to be recognized like this.

 

I’m so honored.” Taupin added, “To be in a house along with the great American songwriters, to even be in the same avenue is humbling, and I am absolutely thrilled to accept.”