Hardwired (song)

"Hardwired" is a song by heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the lead single from their tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016), on August 18, 2016 as a digital download.[3][4] The song was first played live near the end of the band's show at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on August 20, 2016.[5] The song received a nomination for Best Rock Song at the 2017 Grammy Awards.[6]

"Hardwired"
Single by Metallica
from the album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct
Released	August 18, 2016
Recorded	June 2016 at HQ (San Rafael)
Genre	Thrash metal speed metal[1][2]
Length	3:11
Label	Blackened
Songwriter(s)	James Hetfield Lars Ulrich
Producer(s)	Greg Fidelman
Metallica singles chronology
"Lords of Summer" (2014) "Hardwired" (2016) "Moth into Flame" (2016)

Background

The band detailed on the song's debut at The Howard Stern Show that it was a rather late addition to the album. Lars Ulrich explained that after finishing the other songs "we decided that we needed a short, fast opener", leading him and James Hetfield to compose "Hardwired" in about a week in June 2016.[7]

Music video

The music video was released on August 18, 2016. Filmed in black-and-white, it features the band performing the song in the dark under rapidly flashing strobe lights, as the camera continuously rotates around the band members.

Personnel

• James Hetfield – rhythm guitar and vocals
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
• Robert Trujillo – bass
• Lars Ulrich – drums

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2016) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 70 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[9] 15 Canada Rock (Billboard)[10] 17 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[11] 99 Finland Download (Latauslista)[12] 17 France (SNEP)[13] 164 Hungary (Single Top 40)[14] 37 New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 7 Portugal (AFP)[16] 51 Scotland (OCC)[17] 63 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[18] 87 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 72 UK Singles (OCC)[20] 186 UK Rock and Metal (OCC)[21] 3 US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[22] 19 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[23] 9 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[24] 1 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[25] 13

Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[26] 65

References

1. Pareles, Jon. "Hardwired". Nytimes. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
2. Jenkins, Craig. "Album Review: Metallica's Hardwired". Vulture. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
3. "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct Available November 18, 2016". Metallica. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
4. "METALLICA To Release 'Hardwired…To Self-Destruct' Album In November". Blabbermouth.net. August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
5. "Metallica turns it up to 11 in sold-out U.S. Bank Stadium show". StarTribune.com. August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
6. "Grammys 2017: The Full Nominations List". Retrieved January 4, 2017.
7. https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/9/26/video-metallica-live-stern-show/ VIDEO: METALLICA LIVE ON THE STERN SHOW
8. "CHART WATCH #383". auspOp. August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
9. "Ultratop.be – Metallica – Hardwired" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
10. "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
11. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201647 into search. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
12. "Metallica: Hardwired" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
13. "Lescharts.com – Metallica – Hardwired" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
14. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
15. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
16. "Portuguesecharts.com – Metallica – Hardwired... to Self-Destruct". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
17. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201647 into search. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
19. "Swedishcharts.com – Metallica – Hardwired". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
20. Chart Log UK: "CLUK Update 20.08.2016 (wk33)". UK Singles Chart. Zobbel.de. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
21. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
22. "Metallica Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
23. "Metallica Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
24. "Metallica Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
25. "Metallica Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
26. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2020.