Metallica Hits Back: Band Issues Copyright Notice Against US Department of Defense Over Unauthorised ‘Enter Sandman’ Use

It’s never a quiet week when Metallica are involved. The metal giants have fired off a copyright notice to the US Department of Defense (DoD) after the agency used their legendary hit Enter Sandman in a video showcasing new military drone tech—without asking first.

The clip, posted on X (formerly Twitter), featured US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hyping plans to “rebuild the military” and “unleash American drone superiority” while Enter Sandman played in the background. As Rolling Stone  and Digital Music News  report, Metallica’s notoriously protective management team spotted the unapproved use and quickly issued a takedown.

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“The use of Enter Sandman in the original video was unauthorized,” a rep told Rolling Stone. The Pentagon confirmed the mishap, noting that X staff had also contacted them about the copyright issue. The video was swiftly removed and re-uploaded sans Metallica.

This isn’t the first time the band has flexed their legal muscles to protect their music. During the Iraq War, Metallica demanded the US military stop blasting their songs during interrogations, opposing any association of their work with violence. And let’s not forget Napster-gate in the early 2000s, where they became infamous for fighting peer-to-peer file sharing—a move that split fans but cemented their rep for defending their catalogue at all costs.

The news comes as Metallica gears up for their massive M72 World Tour, bringing them back to Australian and New Zealand stadiums this November for the first time in 12 years. With support from Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies, they’ll be turning up the volume across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland.

Metallica’s message? Whether it’s drone videos or illegal downloads: don’t use their music without asking.