In all Metallica shows from the 1980s, before the riffs, solos and drums, there is a rumble of timpani and piano and a solitary oboe. Those instruments comprise the opening moments of composer Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold,” one of his most famous compositions from one of his most famous works: the score for the 1966s. The good, the bad and the ugly – and has served as input music for Metallica for almost four decades.
Morricone died Monday in Rome at the age of 91, and Metallica quickly paid tribute to the Oscar-winning composer, who devised the sound of Western spaghetti and scored more than 500 films during his career.
“RIP Ennio Morricone,” Metallica wrote on Twitter. “Your career was legendary, your compositions were eternal. Thank you for creating the environment for so many of our shows since 1983. “
RIP Ennio Morricone
Your career was legendary, your compositions were eternal. Thank you for creating the environment for so many of our shows since 1983. pic.twitter.com/ac1QZ9QLPs– Metallica (@Metallica) July 6, 2020
On Instagram, James Hetfield shared an additional note, writing: “The day we first played ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ as our new introduction in 1983, it was magical! It has become part of our blood flow, deep breathing, fist bumps, prayers and rhythms prior to the band’s performance since then. I have sung that tune thousands of times to warm my throat before taking the stage. Thank you Ennio for cheering us on, being a big part of our inspiration and a link between the band, the team and the fans. I will always think of you as part of the Metallica family.
In recent interviews with Rolling StoneMetallica’s Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett discussed how “The Ecstasy of Gold” became part of their live show. Both credited Jon Zazula, the founder of Megaforce Records, who released Metallica’s debut in 1983, Kill them all.
Ulrich recalled flying from California to New Jersey in 1983 to see a series of East Coast shows and having slept with Zazula and his wife at their New Jersey home. “We didn’t have an opening tape or input music or whatever,” says Ulrich. “And he was the one who suggested ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ of The good, the bad and the ugly… It’s just part of who we are, and we’ll always be grateful to Johnny for his suggestion. “
The song has become such a key component of Metallica’s live performances that Hammett says there is a kind of “Pavlovian conditioning”. Every time I listen I feel like I have to go into stretch mode and check the tuning on my guitar and make sure my hands, arms and wrists are loose enough. “
Along with using “The Ecstasy of Gold” as his introductory music, Metallica recorded his own version of the song for the 2007 Morricone tribute album, We all love Ennio Morricone.
Additional reports from Kory Grow.
