The legendary heavy metal band Metallica performed a rousing cover of the famous Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar" at a concert at Estádio Couto Pereira in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 7, 2022.
Metallica are no strangers to performing the Irish song - in 1998, they included their rendition of "Whiskey in the Jar" on their album "Garage, Inc."
The following year, they won the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy for the song that was inspired by Thin Lizzy's take on the traditional Irish favorite.
They also covered the song when they rocked Slane Castle in June 2019, honoring Ireland's most successful hard-rock export.
"Whiskey in the Jar" first gained international exposure as a traditional Irish folk song when The Dubliners performed it during concerts at home and abroad.
The song's origins can be traced back to the 17th century, making it one of Ireland's oldest folk songs. The exact origins of the song are unclear, but it is believed to have originated in Ireland. The lyrics tell the story of a highwayman who robs a military officer and is eventually betrayed by his lover.
The song reached new heights when Thin Lizzy repurposed it as a rock song in 1973. Sung by Phil Lynott, the Thin Lizzy version achieved commercial success both nationally and internationally, charting at number one on the Irish charts and reaching number six on the UK charts. It also reached the top 20 in both the German and Dutch charts.
Metallica, meanwhile, reached number 17 in Ireland with their own version of "Whiskey in the Jar," in addition to charting in the top ten in several European countries.
The group also reached number one in the UK Rock and Metal charts in addition to reaching number four in the US Mainstream Rock charts.
* Originally published in May 2022, updated in Aug 2023.
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