Elton John: 'Metallica's Nothing Else Matters is one of the best songs ever written'

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Elton John

Elton John has called Metallica's Nothing Else Matters "one of the best songs ever written."

The 74-year-old star covers the track with Miley Cyrus, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, WATT, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith for the band's new covers album The Metallica Blacklist - and he brought frontman James Hetfield to tears when he raved about the song.

Elton told The Howard Stern Show: "Listen, this is one of the best songs ever written. It's a song that never gets old. And playing on this track, I just couldn't wait. The chord structure, the melodies, the time changes, it's got drama written all over it.

"I have to say, it was a no-brainer playing on this song. Metallica are probably the creme de la creme of those kind of bands. You can't really define them. They're not a heavy metal band. They're a musical band. Their songs aren't just heavy metal. They're beautiful songs. This is such a melodic song - it's f**king great, actually."

Drummer Lars Ulrich replied: "To be able to hear what you just said Elton, sitting next to James..., the reaction that I could feel in his body language when you said it was one of the greatest songs ever written..,. this is just incredible to hear."