10 Songs Rock Bands Refuse To Play Live

8. Metallica – ‘Sweet Amber’

The chaos that led to the release of Metallica's sixth album, 'St. Anger', in 2003, is well-known. Rehab, total writer’s block, and a long arduous process to replace bassist Jason Newsted helped make this one of the most diverse albums in metal history. 'Sweet Amber' is the song on 'St. Anger' many consider to be the best. But it was only performed live once, in Lubbock, Texas, on September 4, 2004.

On the surface, this song is about a girl and her addictions and alcoholism. Of course, amber is also the colour of many beers, leading some listeners to believe that the song at its core deals with frontman James Hetfield's addition to alcohol. But that's not the only reading of the song.The alternative is covered in the 'Some Kind of Monster' documentary, as the band start writing Sweet Amber after their management makes them record radio promos for their sponsors. Hetfield writes "wash your back so you don't stab mine” to relay the commercial favour they were forced into to stay in the label's good books - making the song perhaps one they don't want to revisit.

Considering how diverse and brilliant their massive back catalogue is otherwise, it's understandable a song might have slipped through the cracks, in either case.