One of the most unforgettable moments in Grammy history happened on February 12, 2017, when James Hetfield, Metallica’s legendary frontman, shared the stage with pop superstar Lady Gaga for a fiery rendition of “Moth Into Flame” at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The collaboration started surprisingly casually — at a dinner party hosted by actor Bradley Cooper. Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, sat next to Gaga and thought, “Why not bring her to the Grammys with us?” Gaga immediately agreed, and the idea was set in motion.
The live performance almost hit a snag. A microphone malfunction silenced Hetfield’s voice at the start, and Laverne Cox accidentally omitted Metallica during her introduction. But Gaga’s quick thinking saved the day — she shared her mic with Hetfield, turning a technical glitch into an intimate, electrifying duet.
What made this Grammy moment truly legendary wasn’t perfection — it was spontaneity. The raw energy, the adaptation to mishaps, and the chemistry between two unlikely collaborators created a performance fans still talk about today.