Metallica apologizes to Canadian cover band for epic cease and desist letter

[Metallica perform onstage / Radio Canada]

Metallica is saying sorry to Sandman, a Canadian cover band that received a 41-page cease and desist letter from the metal legends’ lawyers.

Sandman, which bills itself as “Canada’s tribute to Metallica” was apparently served with legal papers from the band’s lawyers via Fedex during one of their gig in London, Ontario, reports Rolling Stone. The papers requested that the tribute band stop using Metallica’s logos to promote their shows on Facebook and YouTube.

Joe Di Taranto plays guitar for Sandman, and told Rolling Stone, “The band have been using this logo for years with no problems at all.”

According to NME.com, Metallica decided their lawyers had gone too far when the court of public opinion (read: social media) started crying foul.

In a statement sent to Rolling Stone, the band found a handy scapegoat in their lawyerly brethren.

"We hear that a Canadian Metallica tribute band is a little upset with us and with a little digging, figured out why,” the band wrote. “It turns out that a certain letter was delivered to the band Sandman that neither we nor our management were aware of until it surfaced online. Lucky for us, the band was kind enough to post it for us to see, and it turns out that we have a very overzealous attorney who sent this letter without our knowledge.”

As for the original 41-page letter? Metallica had some careful instructions.

“Sandman should file the letter in the trash,” the band wrote. “Keep doing what you’re doing… we totally support you! And in the meantime, our attorney can be found at SFO catching a flight to go permanently ice fishing in Alaska.”

Sandman says they will. Di Taranto told Rolling Stone, “We will continue to fly the Metallica flag, loud and proud!!“

[Promotional poster from the cover band’s Facebook page]