Metallica to Play National Anthem at NBA Finals
Metallica‘s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett have developed something of a specialty in playing “The Star Spangled Banner.” The pair will be bringing their well-honed rendition of the national anthem to the NBA Finals as their hometown team, the Golden State Warriors, take on the Cleveland Cavaliers for Game 5 this Sunday, June 14th.
For the past three years, Metallica have been supporting their local baseball team with appearances at the San Francisco Giants’ “Metallica Day,” which Hetfield and Hammett open with their electrified instrumental version of the national anthem. They have participated in a similar “Metallica Night” with the San Jose Sharks hockey team, and most recently got in a little practice on the tune while opening the X Games in Austin, Texas on June 6th.
“We’re incredibly lucky to have another winning team here in the Bay Area as the Golden State Warriors took the NBA Western Conference title and are facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals!” the band raved in a statement on their website. “By now we’re guessing that you’ve noticed that we like to support our home sports teams, so to continue in that tradition James and Kirk will be on hand at Game 5 on Sunday, June 14th. They’ll be performing the National Anthem before the game as the Warriors resume their quest for the title back at home at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA that night.”
The rockers follow closely on the heels of another Bay Area local, after Carlos Santana did the honors before Game 2 last week.