"Hero of the Day" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Metallica from their 1996 album Load. The song was recorded on December 13, 1995 at Plant Studios in Sausalito, California. "Hero of the Day" was also Metallica's second single release from the album. The song became their second consecutive number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and reached number two in Australia, number three in Finland and number eight in Norway. The song is one of the few Metallica songs written primarily in a major key. A promotional video for the track was also filmed.
The "Hero of the Day" single is notable for including four Motörhead cover songs, recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios during a rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at Los Angeles' Whiskey A Go-Go nightclub. These b-sides were later released on the second CD of the Garage Inc. compilation in 1998.
According to an article in the rock music magazine Kerrang, around the time of Load's release, the demo for the song was entitled "Mouldy" due to the main riff reminding James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich of a typical Bob Mould sound. The demo was recorded on December 10, 1994, one of the earliest demo recordings for the Load sessions (the first demo to be recorded was for "Wasting My Hate" on November 28, 1994).
The music video for this song was directed by Anton Corbijn and features a drug-addled youth watching a television, with every channel featuring Metallica in some way. A Western movie titled Load is featured, starring Newsted and Hetfield, followed by a boxing match with Hetfield as coach, and Newsted and Kirk Hammett as the fighters. After a drink called "Load" is advertised by Ulrich and Hetfield in matching suits, a game show called "Hero of the Day" (which is a parody of Jeopardy!) is seen being played of which Jason Newsted is the host. Then, it cuts to the news with the anchorman played by Hammett and featuring a clip of Hetfield singing the lyrics to the song. A girl calls at the youth's house and they later try having sex, but the young man is unaroused, and visibly disappointed, leans back in his bed. The girl later leaves. At the end, the youth passes out and dreams of tiny robot creatures, rendered in stop motion, emerging from his ear. He awakes from the dream and vomits into his toilet.
Track listings
US single
- "Hero of the Day" 4:24
- "Kill/Ride Medley" (Live - Escape from the studio '95) 10:17
International version Part 1:
- Hero of the Day
- Overkill
- Damage Case
- Hero of the Day (Outta B-Sides Mix)
International version Part 2:
- Hero of the Day
- Stone Dead Forever
- Too Late Too Late
- Mouldy (aka Hero of the Day - early demo version)
UK version: (METCY 13). Came with a poster in a red cardboard sleeve with embossed Metallica logo and four "M" star. On the front cover says: "Featuring The Whole Motorheadache Mess":
- Hero Of The Day
- Overkill
- Damage Case
- Stone Dead Forever
- Too Late Too Late
Japanese EP:
- Hero of the Day
- Hero of the Day (Outta B-Sides Mix)
- Mouldy (Hero of the Day Demo mix)
- Stone Dead Forever
- Damage Case
- Too Late Too Late
Kill / Ride Medley contains portions of "Ride the Lightning" "No Remorse" "Hit the Lights" "The Four Horsemen" "Phantom Lord" and "Fight Fire with Fire"
Recorded live on August 26, 1995 at Castle Donington in Donington, England
Overkill
Not produced
Recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA on December 13, 1995 during rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles
Mixed by Randy Staub
Originally released by Motörhead in 1979 on the Overkill album
Damage Case
Not produced
Recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA on December 13, 1995 during rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles
Mixed by Randy Staub
Originally released by Motörhead in 1979 on the Overkill album
Stone Dead Forever
Not produced
Recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA on December 13, 1995 during rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles
Mixed by Randy Staub
Originally released by Motörhead in 1979 on the Bomber album
Too Late Too Late
Not produced
Recorded live direct to two-track at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, CA on December 13, 1995 during rehearsal for Lemmy's 50th Birthday Party at the Whisky A Go-Go, Los Angeles
Mixed by Randy Staub
Originally released by Motörhead in 1979 as the b-side to the Overkill single
Hero of the Day (Outta B-Sides Mix)
Producer: Bob Rock with Hetfield & Ulrich
Mixed by Randy Staub
Recorded & Mixed at The Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA from May 1995 to February 1996
Mouldy (aka HERO OF THE DAY - Early Demo Version)
Obviously Not Produced
Recorded by Lars & Jaymz on December 10, 1994 in Lars' Dungeon. Kirk & Jason - day off (as usual!)
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