A BARNSLEY musician has discovered that his 1980s’ heavy metal band was one of the influences on legendary rockers Metallica.

Brian Shaughnessy was gob-smacked when he was contacted by a magazine asking for permission to use Seventh Son’s debut single.

The publication is called ‘Roots of Metallica’ and comes with a CD. Brian was told Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich was an early fan of Seventh Son.

The band’s double A-side debut vinyl single, Man on the Street/Immortal Hours was released in 1981 — and Ulrich bought a copy.

Brian, of Athersley, said: “We were one of the bands he bought as a youngster and he was influenced by. In a small way we are part of the success of Metallica, one of the biggest metal bands in the world.

“We never knew. It’s incredible to think of us in Barnsley and that he picked up one of them. And here we are 29 years later. It would have been better if he had recorded one of our songs and we’d be well-off now.

“All we wanted to do was have the fun of making our own record. We sold all our equipment and begged, borrowed and stole to make our first single, which was recorded at Fairview Studios at Hull.”

Brian, in his late-40s, is the remaining original member in Seventh Son. The band is playing at The White Bear as part of the Love Music Hate Racism festival.