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James Hetfield Releases Spoken-Word ’Twas the Night Before Christmas

The four-minute reading debuted on Metallica’s Maximum Metallica SiriusXM channel before appearing with a cozy animated clip on the band’s social platforms.

Overview

  • Hetfield’s recitation of A Visit From St. Nicholas premiered Dec. 19 on the band’s SiriusXM channel and was later posted to Instagram and YouTube.
  • The clip features a crackling-fire animation with band stockings and a caption inviting fans to settle in by the fire for “Story Time with Papa Het.”
  • Journalists noted his delivery as warm and subdued compared with his usual vocals, with gravelly flourishes and a forceful final line.
  • The poem, commonly known by its opening line ’Twas the night before Christmas, is traditionally attributed to Clement Clarke Moore and was first published in 1823.
  • Separately, media continue to cite unconfirmed talk of possible Metallica shows at the Las Vegas Sphere, with no official plans announced.