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Last October 10, 2026, in the very heart of Las Vegas, James Hetfield once again made it clear why Metallica is not only one of the most important bands in the history of rock, but also a group that firmly upholds its principles about what its music represents.
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In front of thousands of fans gathered at The Sphere, the impressive immersive-technology venue that has turned every one of the band’s performances into a unique audiovisual experience, the Metallica frontman delivered a message that quickly began circulating among heavy metal fans.
Before starting one of the concerts of their Las Vegas residency, Hetfield thanked the fans who had traveled to join the band.
“Unless you live in Vegas, you’ve come a long way to spend some time with Metallica.”
Hetfield continued, “We’re grateful for that. Your travels, the money you spend, the time it took, thanks for coming to celebrate with us.”
However, the message gained force when he spoke about the band’s stance on topics outside of the music.
“We are here, no bullshit – we’re here to forget about all the outside shit, OK? Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby.”
The vocalist’s words were recorded by several attendees and shared on social media. Although he did not mention any specific names, the message was interpreted as a criticism of artists who use their concerts as a platform to express political or ideological positions.
A philosophy Metallica has maintained for decades
This is not the first time Hetfield has spoken about Metallica’s decision to stay away from political or religious messages at their concerts.
In 2016, during the promotion of the album Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, the musician explained that the band avoided those topics because they could create divisions among their fans. For Hetfield, music has the power to unite people with different ideas, cultures, and beliefs through a shared passion.
That philosophy was once again present during their performance at The Sphere.
Metallica’s residency at The Sphere
The statements were made during Metallica’s residency at The Sphere, one of the most innovative venues in the entertainment world thanks to its enormous screens and immersive technology.
The band began this series of concerts in October and has shows scheduled through March 2027, taking advantage of the venue’s visual capabilities to create a different experience every night.