Fans Torn Over The Winner Of Metallica’s Local Band Contest

Metallica has announced the winner of their "Local Band" contest  and fans are scratching their heads wondering if the winner counts as local.

Metallica launched the "Hit The Stage" contest on their website back in the beginning of April, asking for a local band to open up for the rockers, after five dates on their tour have only 1 opener available. Instead of asking another big band to come fill in for those dates, Metallica decided to have a contest with local radio stations to find a local band to open for them on tour.

After a few weeks of voting, the band announced who their winner was.....

Local H.

If you're confused because this name sounds familiar, you're not the only one. Local H is an Illinois-based band that has been around since 1990 and are best known for their hit "Bound for the Floor" off their 1996 album As Good As Dead. The band has been signed by multiple record labels and the song peaked at #5 on Billboard's Alternative chart.

Because of all of this earlier success, some people are saying calling Local H a "local" band is a bit of a stretch. When the contest was initially announced, fans were excited that such a huge band were trying to get more mainstream exposure for young, up and coming bands. Instead, the band allowed a band that has had a hit song, signed to a major label and has had national exposure as their "local" band. Some fans are upset with this, while others are saying that Local H hasn't had a hit song since the 90s and is still making new albums trying to make it. Either way, Local H will be opening up for Metallica on five tour stops:

05/19 Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium (feat. Volbeat)

06/04 St. Louis, MO – Busch Stadium (feat. Volbeat)

06/14 San Antonio, TX – Alamodome (feat. Avenged Sevenfold)

06/16 Dallas, TX – AT&T Stadium (feat. Avenged Sevenfold)

06/18 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (feat. Avenged Sevenfold)