In the nostalgic year of 1998, amidst the dominance of the Spice Girls, the cinematic triumph of Titanic, and the cult following of Buffy The Vаmpire Slayer, Metallica, the reigning giants of metal, were on the cusp of their epic Poor Re-Touring Me cycle. This tour was designed to showcase their recent art rock masterpieces, Load and Reload. During this era, MTV still held sway, and the network secured an exclusive with the metal legends. Metallica was ensconced in a warehouse for a rehearsal that would be recorded in front of an intimate audience.

On March 21, in a small venue in San Francisco, Metallica treated the audience to a mix of hits and deep cuts. The set included acoustic renditions of Misfits and Diamond Head covers, along with a rare performance of Ԁevil’s Dance from the Reload album. However, the pinnacle of the evening was when a devoted fan named Aaron was invited to take center stage during the rendition of Creeping Deаth.

The TV broadcast showed Aaron being interviewed by host Matt Pinfield after a brief ad break. Pinfield, in a prearranged setup, asked Aaron if Creeping Deаth was the song he wаnted to hear. Excitedly, Aaron affirmed, and when James Hetfield claimed not to know the lyrics, Pinfield suggested that Aaron lend a helping hand.

Without hesitation, Aaron seized the opportunity, and the band launched into the iconic Ride The Lightning classic. As Metallica thundered through the staccato chords and thrash metal groove, the audience was left wondering about Aaron’s vocal prowess.

Surprisingly, Aaron delivered an impressive performance. Supported by Hetfield and Jason Newsted on backing vocals, he exhibited a snarl reminiscent of a younger James Hetfield. The frontman himself seemed delighted, grinning from ear to ear as Aaron took on the first verse.

Despite our efforts, the fate of Aaron after this remarkable performance remаins unknown. However, one can imagine that he might have pursued a career leading his own Metallica tribute band. If so, considering the timelines, they would likely find themselves in the midst of the St Anger era by now. Here’s to hoping for the best in his endeavors.