Corrosion of Conformity’s Pepper Keenan told of his shock and disbelief when he was asked to audition as a temporary member of Metallica in 1992. The situation arose after James Hetfield sustained serious burns after walking into an onstage pyrotechnic, leaving him unable to play guitar. He added that "they were putting the feelers out … I was like, 'Bro, for one thing, it’s a stadium tour. Watch Pepper Keenan Interviewed on 'Garza Podcast'Despite his doubts, Keenan agreed to audition. There was an unexpected bonus for Keenan – who would later audition to replace Jason Newsted in Metallica – in that he knew Hetfield had namechecked him as a potential solution to the 1992 issue.