Metallica’s Perfect Response to Gatekeeping ‘Master Of Puppets’

Metallica demonstrated a perfect response when faced with gatekeeping from a fan who tried to restrict access to their iconic song, ‘Master of Puppets.’

The Netflix show, Stranger Things, played a significant role in introducing Kate Bush to a new audience. However, Metallica also experienced a surge in popularity, thanks to the show’s inclusion of one of their songs.

In the fourth season, the character Eddie Munson, portrayed by Joseph Quinn, shared a heartwarming friendship with Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), a scene that became particularly memorable. In a poignant moment, Eddie, standing on top of a trailer in the Upside Down, rocked out to Metallica’s 1986 hit ‘Master of Puppets’ with an epic guitar solo.

The inclusion of this scene on Netflix resulted in a resurgence of the song’s popularity as a younger generation of fans discovered Metallica’s music for the first time.

Despite this seemingly positive development, some older metal fans attempted to gatekeep the band, expressing dissatisfaction with a new, younger audience embracing their music.

In July 2022, Metallica posted a clip of the band playing ‘Master of Puppets’ live, prompting a fan to apologize for what they perceived as “fake Stranger Things fans” and expressing their love for Metallica. However, Metallica had no patience for attempts to discourage new fans, responding promptly, “If they like Puppets, chances are they’ll find plenty of other songs to get into.”

The band reinforced their stance with a new top comment on the clip, stating, “FYI – EVERYONE is welcome in the Metallica Family. Whether you’ve been a fan for 40 hours or 40 years, we all share a bond through music. All of you started at ground zero at one point in time.”

Metallica’s response emphasized inclusivity and the shared love for music, regardless of the duration of fandom.

The inclusion of ‘Master of Puppets’ in Stranger Things led to a remarkable 400 percent increase in streams, as reported by Billboard. Metallica expressed their delight at being featured in the show, acknowledging the Duffer Brothers’ exceptional incorporation of music into Stranger Things. The band conveyed their honor in playing a significant role in Eddie’s journey and being in the company of other amazing artists featured in the show.