Earlier this year, Metallica offered up a challenge to marching bands around the United States, looking for which band could perform their music the best. We're about to see the Iowa Hawkeyes chalk up their entry this weekend during the halftime show of the Iowa vs. Michigan State game.

Metallica has chosen 13 tracks from their catalog, including Creeping Death, Enter Sandman, Fade to Black, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fuel, Hit the Lights, Master of Puppets, One, Sad But True, Seek & Destroy, The Unforgiven and Wherever I May Roam. It also includes their new song, Lux Æterna, from the new album 72 Seasons.

All bands entering the competition will have a library of marching band charts for the songs provided by Hal Leanord at sheetmusicdirect.com.

There are five categories of competition for this contest, with two collegiate winners receiving $75,000 and $40,000. Three high school winner will receive a $15,000 prize in their respective size divisions. A "fan favorite" choice from the collegiate division and high school divisions will each receive $10,000.

University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band
University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band
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The winners in each category will receive a donation of instruments and equipment for their programs, from Metallica themselves and their sponsors, which include:

  • Tama
  • KHS America
  • Zildjian
  • D’Addario
  • Gator
  • Sweetwater

Video submissions for the Metallica Marching Band Competition are due by Nov. 16, 2023, with voting beginning on Nov. 17, 2023. Winners will be selected on Dec. 1, 2023.

To give you an idea of the caliber of band Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band is, check out their performance from the last home game, where they paid homage to their school's basketball star, Caitlyn Clark.

Will we see a giant James Hetfield this weekend?

If you or your band is interested in entering, visit the Metallica Marching Band website.

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