Eleven-year-old Maya Neelakantan made a groundbreaking debut on “America’s Got Talent” by performing a cover of Metallica’s classic track “Master of Puppets.” This marked the first time the legendary band allowed their music to be showcased on the show.
Maya, an Indian-American, delivered a captivating performance during the quarter-finals, skillfully blending her classical Indian music background with Metallica’s heavy riffs. She even tuned her electric guitar to mimic the sound of a sitar, adding a unique cultural twist to the iconic metal anthem.
Before her performance, Maya shared her excitement, saying, “I’m the first act Metallica has ever permitted to play on AGT. I really want to make them proud.” Her rendition impressed the judges, with Simon Cowell praising her as possessing “a god-given talent” and noting the rarity of Metallica granting such permission.
After her performance, Maya expressed her gratitude, saying, “It was amazing. I’m so thrilled to have had the honor of playing ‘Master of Puppets’ on AGT. Thank you to Metallica and the Cliff Burton family for making this possible.”
Earlier this year, Maya auditioned for AGT and has since been refining her skills with guidance from notable metal guitarists like Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick, and Eric Peterson. Metallica’s resurgence in popularity, partly due to their music’s feature in the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things,” has introduced their classic tracks to a new generation of fans, coinciding with the release of their latest album, “72 Seasons.”
