11-Year-Old Indian-American Guitarist Wows with Metallica Cover on AGT

Eleven-year-old Maya Neelakantan made headlines on 'America's Got Talent' with an extraordinary performance of Metallica's iconic track 'Master of Puppets.' Her rendition marked a historic moment, as it was the first time Metallica had ever permitted their music to be performed on the show.

The Indian-American prodigy delivered her stunning cover during the quarter-finals, captivating both the audience and the judges with her unique interpretation. Before taking the stage, Maya revealed her excitement and the significance of her performance, saying, “I’m the first act Metallica have ever given permission to play on AGT. I really want to make Metallica proud.”

Maya's performance was a blend of her classical Indian music background with Metallica’s heavy riffs. She adapted her electric guitar to mimic the sound of a sitar, infusing the metal anthem with a distinctive cultural twist. Her innovative approach impressed the judges, including Simon Cowell, who praised her talent, stating, “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.”

Cowell also expressed gratitude to Metallica, acknowledging the rarity of such an opportunity: “I gotta say a big, big thank you to Metallica for giving you that song. That doesn’t happen very often.”

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Following her performance, Maya expressed her deep appreciation: “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 to the AGT stage began earlier this year with her initial audition. Since then, she has refined her skills with the help of metal legends, including Gary Holt of Slayer and Alex Skolnick and Eric Peterson of Testament, who provided guidance on her metal guitar technique.

Metallica’s renewed popularity among younger audiences, partly driven by its feature in the hit Netflix series ‘Stranger Things,’ has coincided with the release of their latest album, ‘72 Seasons.’ Lars Ulrich, Metallica’s drummer, previously commented on this resurgence, noting the influx of younger fans at their shows. “We see a lot of 13 to 14-year-olds coming for the first time,” Ulrich noted. “There’s always been a coming-of-age element to our shows, and just look at the Stranger Things phenomena of last summer. That came out of nowhere and all of a sudden introduced Metallica to a whole other set of younger people.

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