Twenty Years Later: Midnight North’s Grahame Lesh & Connor O’Sullivan Cover Metallica’s ‘Until It Sleeps’

Following last year’s successful Songs Of Their Own video series of artists covering songs by the Grateful Dead, the Twenty Years Later video series features some of JamBase’s favorite musicians recording songs released in 1996. Looking back, the music released 20 years ago proved to be critical in both rock ‘n’ roll history and particularly within the jam band scene. The year 1996 saw seminal albums released by Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, moe., The String Cheese Incident, the Disco Biscuits, Keller Williams, Galactic, Medeski Martin & Wood, God Street Wine, Strangefolk and The Slip, helping to solidify the maturing jam scene.

There were also influential records issued in 1996 by the likes of artists as diverse as Beck, Jamiroquai, Modest Mouse, Rage Against The Machine, Johnny Cash, Pearl Jam, Sting, Tool, 2Pac and many others. The Twenty Years Later video series takes a look back at those releases, with participating artists covering songs from albums turning 20 this year. For this installment, two of the members of Midnight North tore open Metallica’s “Until It Sleeps.”

Metal stalwarts Metallica issued Load, their sixth studio record, in June 1996. Recorded with acclaimed producer Bob Rock, the Metallica lineup featured on the album included drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, bassist Jason Newsted and frontman James Hetfield who wrote the LP track “Until It Sleeps.” The song reportedly about Hetfield’s mother’s struggle with cancer is noted for its music video that revealed a controversial short-haired makeover of the foursome.

Bay Area musicians Grahame Lesh and Connor O’Sullivan are two of the members of Midnight North. The pair set up in the Grate Room at Lesh’s father Phil Lesh’s Terrapin Crossroads venue in San Rafael, California for their stripped down electric performance. Grahame played guitar and handled vocals with Connor accompanying on bass. Watch below as the pair perform a poignant rendition of the metal tune.

Head here to see all of the entries in the Twenty Years Later series. Stay on top of all of JamBase’s video content by subscribing to the official YouTube channel here.