Who arranged the orchestra heard on Metallica's “Nothing Else Matters”?

Michael Kamen arranged the orchestra heard on Metallica's “Nothing Else Matters.”

The song began as a personal piece written by James Hetfield while he was away on tour. Its open, reflective style differed from the band's usual aggressive material, and it eventually became one of the album's best-known songs. Producer Bob Rock encouraged the addition of orchestral color, helping the track expand beyond its original guitar-based foundation.

Michael Kamen provided the orchestral arrangement, while the London Symphony Orchestra performed on the recording. Randy Staub also contributed tambourine. The combination gave the song a broad, cinematic finish without changing its intimate core.

A common mistake is to credit the orchestra itself as the arranger. The London Symphony Orchestra performed the parts, but Kamen arranged them. Another mix-up concerns Kirk Hammett: he does not appear on the studio recording of “Nothing Else Matters,” although he appears in the music video and performs the song live with Metallica.