As if rock at the Grammys weren’t muted enough as it is, Metallica’s James Hetfield was literally turned off last night during the band’s forced collaboration with Lady Gaga.

The performance had all the makings of a classic metal video: Fire everywhere, kids moshing, leather, lace, chains and guitars. It was every cliche wrapped into the band’s new song “Moth Into Flame” as Gaga and Hetfield prepared to exchange vocals……and then the mic went out. What ensued was a fiery mess on stage in front of millions of people that rightfully pissed Hetfield off as he had to run between his busted microphone and Gaga’s to somehow get a verse out. 

It was just another example of the sad state of rock and roll at the Grammys. Metallica couldn’t just come out and do their thing–they had to be paired with a high-profile artist fresh off a Super Bowl halftime show and also incorporate every damn tired stereotype of rock’s culture at the same time. On top of that, Laverne Cox didn’t even bother to mention Metallica during her introduction. When Hetfield threw his mic stand and guitar down at the end, he was all of us. 

Poor Metallica.