Michael Kamen arranged the orchestral parts for Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters,” performed with the London Symphony Orchestra.
The song is unusual within Metallica’s catalog because it began as a private guitar idea by James Hetfield and developed into an emotionally direct, orchestral rock ballad. Kamen’s arrangement added strings without replacing the song’s central vocal and guitar identity. Randy Staub also contributed tambourine on the recording.
Kirk Hammett does not play on the studio recording of “Nothing Else Matters,” although he appears in the music video and performs the song with the band live. That detail is another reason the song’s credits can be misremembered. The album personnel list credits Hetfield with guitars and vocals, while Kamen is credited for the orchestral arrangement.
The track became one of the album’s most widely recognized songs and was released as a single in 1992. Kamen later worked with Metallica on the S&M concerts and album, which paired the band with the San Francisco Symphony.