Each NHL team’s most famous superfan
By Cody Rivera
San Jose Sharks: Metallica
Most NHL teams are fortunate to have at least one celebrity fan. The San Jose Sharks, on the other hand, have an entire band backing them. And not just any old no-name band from down the street. The one and only Metallica, one of the most famous heavy metal bands of all time, are supporters of the Sharks.
The Sharks even use the Metallica song “Seek & Destroy” as their intro music, and they have since the franchise came into existence in 1991.
The band was originally formed in Los Angeles in in 1981, but relocated to the San Francisco area in order to get bassist Cliff Burton to join them. Everything took off for Metallica from that point, as they went on to release albums such as Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lightning, among many others, in the 1980s. From the Kill ‘Em All album came the song “Seek & Destroy” in 1983.
Eventually, the song was put to further use when the Bay Area was granted an expansion team that was set to begin play in the 1991-92 season. That team became the San Jose Sharks, and “Seek & Destroy” immediately became a regular sound at the Shark Tank.
In addition to the usage of the song, many members of the band support the Sharks, having spent so much time in the Bay Area over the decades. In their 26 seasons of existence, the Sharks have yet to win a Stanley Cup. They did come close in 2016, however, reaching the Finals for the first time but losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If the Sharks ever do succeed in bringing the Stanley Cup to the Bay Area, a celebratory Metallica concert might be needed.