Metallica Covered Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ and People Definitely Have Opinions

Was it REALLY that bad?

Zeynep Yenisey

Sep 7, 2018

Earlier this week at a concert in Minneapolis, Metallica did something that has spurred nearly has much online outrage as when the formerly shaggy metal legends cut their hair back in 1996.

Guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo performed a stripped-down cover of hometown hero Prince’s “When Doves Cry”, and not everyone is loving it, especially in that oasis of positivity known as Twitter.

Here’s the blessed original:

Aaaand here’s Metallica’s version as sung by Trujillo:

During the surprise performance, there were some mixed responses from the audience. Some weren’t really having it, while others were waving their phones like lighters, clearly loving the questionable take on the 1984 Prince classic. Because for many Metallica fans, the band can pretty much do no wrong.

Screen Shot 2018-09-07 at 12.26.56 PM — (Photo: YouTube)

But unsurprisingly, Twitter was not as kind:

Don't watch that Metallica cover of "When Doves Cry". Just don't.

— Barre Chord Bastard (@nickferatu) September 6, 2018

https://twitter.com/agirlnamedal/status/1037903132070535169 https://twitter.com/tomfeister/status/1038055786520485888

I made the mistake of clicking on that “Metallica butchers ‘When Doves Cry’” link yesterday and now I can’t get said butchered cover out of my head. This is what it sounds like when my week needs to end.

— Jonah Freedman (@jonahfreedman) September 7, 2018

Metallica rocks. Metallica coveting when doves cry is an atrocity to music. Please make it stop #playsomemetallica

— Josh Thompson (@joshethompson) September 5, 2018

Does anyone really need to see Metallica cover When Doves Cry? Thats like the Baha Men covering Richie Hawtin like why pic.twitter.com/9NDQQNFQiT

— Wild & Free (@wildandfreelax) September 6, 2018