Rock 1984

For Whom the Bell Tolls as a Walkup Song

by Metallica

Preview

Is "For Whom the Bell Tolls" a good walkup song?

The opening bell tolls match Hells Bells's structure but with Metallica's darker edge. The slow tempo gives a pitcher full time to walk in from the bullpen. By the time the song's main riff hits, the pitcher is on the mound — pacing aligned with the entrance.

Notable players who've used it

A cult-favorite closer entrance pick for pitchers who want Hells Bells energy without using the AC/DC original. Used by various MLB and college closers over the years as a Hoffman tribute that's still distinctly its own song. Still works in 2026 — it's slightly more menacing than Hells Bells, slightly less pop-friendly.

How to trim "For Whom the Bell Tolls" for a walkup

Start at 0:00, run for 25 seconds. The tolling bell at the open is essentially Hells Bells with a darker mood. Use the full intro.

The trim point is the difference between a great walkup song and a great walkup. A song's first 15-20 seconds rarely happen to be the best 15-20 seconds — most popular tracks have a build, an intro, or a bridge before the hook lands. Pick the slice that hits hardest. The last second of your trim window should land on a peak, right as the player steps into the box.

Best for

• Closers
• Pitchers

Clean / explicit version notes

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" has no explicit content — it's safe for any age and any league. No need for a clean version or careful trimming. Pick the song, set the trim, lock it in.

Songs that pair well with "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

If "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is on your shortlist, these are the walkup songs players most often consider alongside it. Same vibe, same energy, same kind of moment at the plate.

• Hells Bells — AC/DC
• Enter Sandman — Metallica
• The Man Comes Around — Johnny Cash

How to set up "For Whom the Bell Tolls" for your team

Setting up a walkup song requires three things: an app that handles per-player audio, custom trim points, and one-tap playback on game day.

1. Build your roster in Walkup Pro — assign "For Whom the Bell Tolls" to the player who picked it
2. Scrub to 0:00 and set the trim duration to 25 seconds
3. Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field (a JBL Charge or similar will cover any youth field — see our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a baseball field)
4. On game day, tap to play as the player walks to the box

For a complete game-day setup walkthrough, see how to play walkup songs at baseball games. For more on what makes a great walkup work, see the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.