James Hetfield doesn’t seem very interested in turning a Metallica concert into a political conference.
During the band’s residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, the heavy metal frontman took a second to thank fans for traveling to see the band before making one thing clear: Metallica is not here to advance an agenda.
“Unless you live in Vegas, you’ve come a long way to hang out with Metallica,” Hetfield told the audience at the band’s Oct. 10 concert. “And I just have to say: Metallica is not here, like some other artists, to influence you with their bullshit….”
Instead, the singer and guitarist said the band wanted fans to leave their outside worries at the door.
“We’re here to forget all the outside bullshit,” he continued. “Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!”
Hetfield did not name any specific artists he had in mind, leaving his comments open to interpretation. Yet his message was unequivocal: When fans show up for Metallica, he wants the music to take center stage.
And the longevity of the group speaks for itself. by Metallica Reload returned to Billboard charts following an expanded re-release, landing at No. 1 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart. This is the group’s sixth leader on the chart, following the success of their 2023 album. 72 seasons.
The remarks were made during Metallica’s Life Burns Faster residency at Sphere, the immersive Las Vegas venue that has become known for its enormous wraparound screen and elaborate visual productions. The band began their tour in October, becoming the first heavy metal band to headline the venue. The residency includes a series of performances scheduled through March 2027.
Even though Metallica doesn’t want to get politically involved on stage, that doesn’t mean the band has refrained from outspokenness throughout its decades-long career. Over the years, they have addressed topics in their music ranging from war to addiction to social alienation. They have been at the forefront of the fight against Napster, becoming the first musicians to sue the controversial music-sharing service in 2000.
Gn entert
