It’s not that often when metal creeps its way into mainstream pop culture. So when metal/hard rock acts do actually pop up in beloved sitcoms, dramatic films, cartoons or even reality series, it’s kind of awesome. So in the weekly column Remember When, Metal Insider recalls the most random instances of metal’s elite appearing in front of the camera.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a band as big as Metallica have popped up in their fair share of movies and TV shows (hell, they did have their own 3D film briefly in theaters). Most recently, the band appeared in an episode of Showtime’s Billions, but everyone from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to even The Disney Channel’s Dave the Barbarian have asked at least one member from Metallica to make a cameo. Lars Ulrich has even nabbed himself a few acting gigs over the years. So what makes Metallica’s 2006 animated cameo on The Simpsons stand out? Well… because it’s The Simpsons!
In this particular episode of the iconic animated show, Metallica’s bus breaks down while driving through Springfield. That’s when Otto the school bus driver, their biggest fan, stops to help and offer them a ride… but unfortunately for him, Bart Simpson hijacks the school bus. So not only does Otto lose his bus, but also the chance to save his heroes, who end up getting a ride in Hans Moleman’s truck. Hearing Kirk Hammett proclaim that Otto yelling “METALLICA RULES” at a show of theirs saved him makes this brief cameo a classic, but seeing an animated version of Metallica tearing through a riff from “Master Of Puppets” on the back of Hans’ pickup truck is icing on the cake.
You’ve probably been blasting Metallica’s new song “Hardwired” since it came out last week. So take a break from that, and relive the time Metallica came through Springfield below.
