MetallicaMetallica issued a copyright notice to the US Department of Defence (DoD) after a video showcasing the department’s expanded military drone capabilities was soundtracked by Enter Sandman and posted on social media.
As fans know, Metallica and their management are strict about allowing advertisers, filmmakers, television producers, and documentary makers to use their music. In 1996, the Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills documentary marked the first time that Metallica authorised their music to be used in a film. Their music has been sparingly used in media ever since.
The original video, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), featured US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who showcased the capabilities of a new drone. Enter Sandman played in the background as Hegseth discussed Donald Trump’s plans to “rebuild the military” and “unleash American drone superiority.”
Spotting the video online, Metallica’s management issued a copyright notice to government officials. A representative for the band told Rolling Stone that the use of Enter Sandman was “unauthorised.”
The Pentagon confirmed that the song was used without authorisation, and the video had been removed and re-uploaded without music in the background.
Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance @DOGE pic.twitter.com/esaQtswwDb
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) July 11, 2025
“This afternoon, representatives from X reached out to DoD regarding a video posted to our social media page and asked that the video be removed due to a copyright issue with the song ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallica,” an official from the Pentagon said. “The video has been taken down, corrected, and re-uploaded to our page.”
Music Business Worldwide notes that this isn’t the first time that Metallica have had an issue with the US military using their music. During the Iraq War, the band demanded that the US military stop using their music during interrogations as they opposed their music being associated with violence.
In November, Metallica will return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in 12 years on their M72 World Tour.
Metallica will play in stadiums in Australia and New Zealand. The tour begins at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday, 1 November, before it continues to Adelaide Oval on Wednesday, 5 November; Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, on Saturday, 8 November; Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on Wednesday, 12 November; Accor Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday, 15 November, and ends at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, 19 November.
For the tour, they’ll be joined by special guests Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies, the latter of whom announced their own headline tour alongside the stadium dates yesterday.
