Metallicahas launched a new marching band competition with more than $150,000 in prizes.
The Bay Area rock band is inviting participants of all levels to a national challenge to create their “most exciting, unique, and impressive” performances of some of the band’s most popular songs, according to an announcement Monday, April 10.
Marching bands can enter the competition viawww.metallicamarchingband.com, which provides them access to a library of marching band charts by sheet music publisher Hal Leonard. The library includes some of Metallica’s biggest hits like “Enter Sandman,” “One” and “The Unforgiven.”
The competition has five categories, including collegiate division 1, collegiate division 2 and high school, with prize amounts ranging from $10,000 to $75,000. Professional judges will narrow each category to five finalists, with the final winner selected by members of Metallica.
Fans can also pick their favorites, with separate winners at the collegiate and high-school levels.
The winner of each category will receive musical instruments and gear for their school’s program, furnished by Metallica and their sponsors Tama, KHS America, Zildjian, D’Addario and Gator.
Video submissions for the Metallica Marching Band Competition are due by Nov. 16, with voting beginning the next day. Winners will be selected on Dec. 1.
TheBall State Marching Bandfamously performed a Metallica medley during halftime of a football game in 2011.
Calling All Marching Bands! We want YOU to bring your most exciting, unique, and impressive renditions of our music to your next performance. Together with our partners, we’re giving away $150k worth of new musical equipment!
— Metallica (@Metallica)April 10, 2023
Learn more and sign up athttps://t.co/v3nlEN8HMG!pic.twitter.com/jrT5dpNnQF
In other Metallica news, the band is playing a four-night residency on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” that began Monday night, leading up to the release of its latest studio album, “72 Seasons.”
“In a first for the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ show, it’s ‘Metallica Week,’ as we will be the musical guest each night,” the group wrote to its fans. “We’ll be playing live for all four shows, and you’ll also catch us on the couch, chatting with Jimmy one night.
为其他目击在“保持你的眼睛去皮the broadcast, as we really don’t know what else Jimmy will get us involved in!”
The band has already released several songs from the album, including “Lux Æterna,” “Screaming Suicide,” “If Darkness Had a Son” and the title track. The album will have its world premiere on Thursday, April 13, with global listening events planned at2,100 movie theaters, including more than a dozen Bay Area venues.
Metallica plans to kick off its world tour on April 27, with a show in Amsterdam. U.S. dates begin Aug. 4, in East Rutherford, N.J.
Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com