Watch Metallica Rip Through Elton John Classics At Gershwin Prize Ceremony

Metallica was among the performers at the Gershwin Prize Ceremony honoring Elton John and Bernie Taupin on March 20 at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., aired on PBS. The legendary metal band tackled “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” in a tribute to the iconic rocker and his longtime lyrical songwriting partner.

The medley opens John’s landmark 1973 double LP, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The first part, “Funeral for a Friend,” is a classical-tinged synth-laced instrumental. Reviewer Donald A. Guarisco noted that John composed “Funeral for a Friend” “one day while pondering what music he would want played at his funeral.”

“Funeral for a Friend” segues into “Love Lies Bleeding,” a rocker showcasing Taupin’s deft use of imagery, symbolism and metaphor — evident in the first lines of the song: “The roses in the window box have tilted to one side/Everything about this house was born to grow and die.”

The aforementioned classical motif in “Funeral for a Friend” lends itself well to metal. It’s a curious aspect of classical music that it translates so well to harder rock. Dream Theater included a live cover of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” on their 1995 album, A Change of Seasons.

Metallica took the medley in a much more metal direction with crunchy power chords and “guitarmonies” from Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield. The latter helmed lead vocals on “Love Lies Bleeding,” which had Elton, seated next to Bernie, clapping along.

Watch Metallica perform “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” below: