Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Actor and rapper Will Smith was spotted joining in the action during a private performance by instrumental progressive metal trio Animals As Leaders at his daughter Willow’s 26th birthday celebration.
The party took place around Halloween, with footage from the event subsequently shared on Instagram by New York drummer Marco Cirigliano. In the short clip, Smith can be seen smiling, jumping and moving into other guests while the band performs nearby.
The video captures an unexpected meeting of Hollywood celebrity and technical progressive metal. Rather than standing back and watching, Smith appears to get caught up in the energy of the performance, playfully bouncing among the other attendees.
Cirigliano’s Instagram footage provides a glimpse of the intimate set, although the specific song being performed has not been confirmed in the available reporting.
Animals As Leaders, featuring guitarist Tosin Abasi, are known for their intricate instrumental compositions, extended-range guitars and a style that draws on progressive metal, jazz fusion and other influences. The trio’s most recent studio album is 2022’s “Parrhesia”.
The band’s appearance at the celebration fits with Willow’s well-documented appreciation for heavy music. While she first rose to prominence with pop and hip-hop releases, her later work has incorporated alternative rock, pop-punk and experimental styles.
In a 2022 interview with Guitar World, Willow discussed the breadth of rock music and named acts ranging from Smashing Pumpkins to Lamb Of God among the influences she appreciated.
She has also interacted with Animals As Leaders guitarist Tosin Abasi. Earlier this year, she shared images of the pair experimenting with the distinctive double-neck guitar-and-bass instrument associated with Khn de Poitrine of Angine de Poitrine.
The Smith family has other connections to heavy music as well: Willow’s mother, Jada Pinkett Smith, is a founding member of metal band Wicked Wisdom.
The birthday performance has now attracted attention online, with fans able to watch the brief clip through Cirigliano’s Instagram account.
