Metallica has been historically pretty protective over their music, and they don’t often give permission to others to use or play their songs for profit. However, it looks like the band has had a change of heart when it comes to 11-year-old Maya Neelakantan. She performed a killer cover of Metallica’s famous song “Master Of Puppets” on the last episode of America’s Got Talent.
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Not only is the pint-sized shredder a talented rock guitarist, but she also managed to incorporate elements of traditional Indian music into her cover. Specifically, a segment of the song was played with her electric guitar tuned to sound like a sitar. Now that takes some talent.
Neelakantan received permission from Metallica to perform the cover on AGT. The band has never allowed their music to be played on the hit competition show before this particular instance.
In a vignette ahead of her performance, Neelakantan said: “I’m the first act Metallica have ever given permission to play on AGT. I really want to make Metallica proud.”
After her jaw-dropping set, Neelakantan thanked Metallica as well as the late great Metallica bassist Cliff Burton’s family for “making this possible.”
Who is Maya Neelakantan?
Maya Neelakantan, born May 4, 2013, is an India-born guitar prodigy. She is known for her special fusion of both heavy/thrash metal and Carnatic (classical Indian) music.
Neelakantan is from Chennai and has entranced audiences in person and through the screen with her killer renditions of heavy metal songs with an Indian flair.
She began her musical journey at only six years old when she picked up a guitar for the first time. Her father was the one who encouraged her to try, as she had a passion for metal guitar-playing as well. The first song she ever learned was “For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica.
After her performance of Metallica’s “Master Of Puppets” blew the audience out of the water last week, the AGT judges had nothing but praise for the young talented guitarist.
“You’re just one of these people who’s got a god-given talent,” said Simon Cowell. “This is something you’ve got to do for the rest of your life because you’re so good at this.”
You can catch the next episode of America’s Got Talent (which also happens to be the final quarterfinal performance) tomorrow night, September 4, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on NBC.
Photo by Trae Patton via NBC
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