The Song That Annoyed JAMES HETFIELD, but METALLICA Covered Anyway: 'It Drove Me Nuts'

James Hetfield has built a career on intensity and control, but even he has moments where personal taste takes a back seat.

One of those moments came in the late 1990s, when Metallica recorded “Turn the Page” for their 1998 cover album Garage Inc., despite Hetfield’s long-standing dislike for the song.

Originally released by Bob Seger in 1973, “Turn the Page” became one of the main tracks on Garage Inc. The band gave it a darker edge, and the video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, leaned into that mood with gritty, unsettling visuals.

The twist? Hetfield couldn’t stand the original version.

“Honestly, I can’t stand Bob Seger,” he once admitted. “Nothing personal, but whenever that came on the radio, I’d just think, ‘Play some Aerosmith, man.’ I’d turn it off. It drove me nuts.”

Still, something about the lyrics struck a chord. Hetfield eventually saw the song through a different lens.

“That track really felt like it belonged to us. We’re road dogs. That’s a life we understand.”

The band’s decision to record it came down to that shared experience. After years of grueling tours and life in buses, the emotional weight of “Turn the Page” began to feel familiar. And Hetfield, despite his earlier reactions, committed fully to the new arrangement.

The cover traded Seger’s smooth saxophone solo for a wah-heavy guitar part by Kirk Hammett, reshaping the mood into something heavier and more volatile. Hetfield’s signature raw vocals added a sense of urgency that matched Metallica’s take on the material.

Even with his past annoyance, Hetfield had previously explored similar themes. On “Mama Said” from the 1996 album Load, he leaned into a more country-inspired ballad, another track centered around loneliness and emotional wear from constant touring.

So yes, Bob Seger might have once made Hetfield reach for the dial, but one of Seger’s most iconic songs eventually found a home in Metallica’s catalog.

Covered with weight and grit, it became something Hetfield could claim in his own way, and maybe that’s the closest thing to a compliment you’ll get from him.

About the Garage Inc. Album

Released in 1998, Garage Inc. is a double album made entirely of cover songs recorded by Metallica (listen below). The project mixes old and new material, combining tracks from past sessions with freshly recorded versions.

The first disc features newly recorded covers of songs by artists like Bob Seger, Diamond Head, Mercyful Fate, and Nick Cave. The second disc pulls together B-sides and earlier recordings, including the entire Garage Days Re-Revisited EP from 1987.

Metallica used Garage Inc. to pay tribute to their influences. The band covered a wide range of rock and metal acts that helped shape their sound in the early years.

The album shows off Metallica’s versatility. It moves from hard rock to punk and even touches on bluesy ballads.

Some covers stay close to the originals, while others get a full Metallica makeover, complete with heavy riffs and aggressive vocals.

Garage Inc. gave fans a deeper look into the band’s roots. It also showed that even one of the biggest metal bands in the world still looks up to the artists who came before them.

The album was a commercial success. It went platinum in several countries and remains a fan favorite for its raw energy and variety.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]