METALLICA surprised Frankfurt fans on May 24 when guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo stepped into the spotlight at Deutsche Bank Park to deliver an impromptu cover of ACCEPT's 1982 classic "Fast As A Shark" — widely regarded as one of the earliest speed metal songs ever recorded.
The duo performed the German metal anthem as part of METALLICA's beloved "doodle" tradition, where Hammett and Trujillo deliver semi-acoustic or stripped-back covers of influential songs connected to the cities on their tour route. The Frankfurt crowd erupted as the iconic opening riff rang out — a fitting tribute on ACCEPT's home turf.
The "doodle" concept grew out of METALLICA's ongoing M72 world tour as a way to create spontaneous, intimate moments within arena-scale spectacle. Robert Trujillo explained the evolution: "We started noticing that we weren't getting the result we wanted" with traditional deep cuts, so the band began selecting songs that connect cities and musical legacies. Past doodles have included covers of CHIC, JUDAS PRIEST, and various local acts.
"Fast As A Shark" originally appeared on ACCEPT's landmark 1982 album "Restless And Wild" and is often cited as a direct precursor to thrash metal, cited as an influence by the young METALLICA during their formative years in the early '80s. Fan-filmed footage of the performance has spread rapidly online.
METALLICA continue their European stadium run as part of the M72 world tour.