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Indian-American Maya Neelakantan makes AGT history with Metallica cover
Maya's interpretation of the thrash metal anthem stood out as she skillfully fused her classical Indian music roots with Metallica’s heavy riffs.
Screen Grab from Maya Neelakantan’s AGT performance. / AGT
In a landmark moment on “America’s Got Talent” (AGT), 11-year-old Maya Neelakantan became the first artist ever granted permission by American heavy metal band, Metallica to perform one of their songs on the show.
Maya’s rendition of the band’s classic, "Master of Puppets," during the quarter-finals, captivated both the audience and the judges. “I’m the first act Metallica have ever given permission to play on AGT. I really want to make Metallica proud,” Maya said before stepping onto the stage.
Maya's interpretation of the metal anthem stood out as she skillfully fused her classical Indian music roots with Metallica’s heavy riffs. By tuning her electric guitar to mimic the sound of a sitar, she introduced a unique cultural element to the performance.
Judge Simon Cowell was notably impressed, remarking, “You’re just one of these people who’s got a god-given talent… this is something you’ve got to do for the rest of your life because you’re so good at this.” He added, “I gotta say a big, big thank you to Metallica for giving you that song. That doesn't happen very often.”
Following her performance, Maya expressed her excitement and appreciation, stating, “It was just amazing. I'm so happy I had the honor of playing 'Master of Puppets' by Metallica for the first time on AGT. So thank you Metallica and thank you to the Cliff Burton family for making this possible.”
Maya’s journey on the show began earlier this year when she auditioned and quickly caught the attention of viewers. Since then, she has been honing her skills with guidance from metal legends like Gary Holt of Slayer, and Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson of Testament, who have all played a role in refining her guitar prowess.
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