Latest news with #Hetfield
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Heavy Metal Icon's, 61, Heartfelt Thank You to Black Sabbath for 'Giving Us Purpose' Will Give You All the Feels
Heavy Metal Icon's, 61, Heartfelt Thank You to Black Sabbath for 'Giving Us Purpose' Will Give You All the Feels originally appeared on Parade. Heavy metal just witnessed one of its most touching moments as James Hetfield delivered a tribute that had every metalhead reaching for tissues. The Metallica frontman's heartfelt acknowledgment of Black Sabbath's foundational influence created an emotional highlight at Birmingham's historic "Back to the Beginning" farewell concert. The 61-year-old vocalist and rhythm guitarist addressed the crowd with genuine gratitude before Metallica's five-song set, declaring his band's eternal debt to the Birmingham legends. Hetfield's sincere appreciation captured what most every metal musician feels about Black Sabbath's genre-defining impact. Standing before thousands at Villa Park, the American musician expressed Metallica's honor at celebrating the band that essentially created their career path. His acknowledgment that Black Sabbath gave them "purpose in life" resonated deeply with fans who understand how the 1968-formed pioneers opened doors for countless metal bands. Metallica's tribute extended beyond words into their carefully curated setlist. The San Francisco-based band opened with "Hole in the Sky," a Black Sabbath cover they hadn't performed live since 2009, demonstrating their deep respect through musical homage. They also delivered "Johnny Blade" alongside their own classics including "Creeping Death," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Battery," and "Master of Puppets." The performance showcased how Hetfield's distinctive raspy vocals and intricate rhythm playing have been influenced by Black Sabbath's groundbreaking sound. His emotional delivery proved that even after four decades in metal, the genre's biggest stars remain humble about their origins. This moment exemplified the metal community's supportive nature, where established legends openly celebrate their influences. Hetfield's tribute reflected the genuine camaraderie that exists between generations of metal musicians, from Sabbath's 1968 formation to Metallica's 1981 Los Angeles Los Angeles-formed band's presence at Ozzy Osbourne's farewell celebration demonstrated their understanding of metal's lineage. Without Black Sabbath's occult themes, down-tuned guitars, and horror-inspired lyrics, the thrash metal movement that Metallica pioneered might never have existed. Fan reactions to Hetfield's tribute have been overwhelmingly positive, with comments praising Metallica as "always a class act" and celebrating their respectful acknowledgment of metal's founding fathers. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 This emotional exchange between metal generations created a perfect moment highlighting how Black Sabbath's influence continues inspiring new artists decades after their revolutionary 1968 formation in Birmingham. Heavy Metal Icon's, 61, Heartfelt Thank You to Black Sabbath for 'Giving Us Purpose' Will Give You All the Feels first appeared on Parade on Jul 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
San Francisco Chronicle
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Metallica omits its biggest hit on first night of Levi's Stadium stand
Is a Metallica concert in 2025 complete without 'Enter Sandman'? The fans gathered at Levi's Stadium for the chilly first night of an epic weekend residency didn't seem to notice its omission. With a full clip of metal classics stretching more than four decades, a stadium full of black-clad day-ones and their offspring, and a 'no repeats' setlist in place across two nights, Metallica's signature hit took a rare night off. Still, Metallica's Friday night, 16-song set was career-spanning, touching upon multiple eras. They turned back the clock to 1983 with thrash metal templates 'Hit the Lights' and 'Seek and Destroy.' Well-oiled headbangers 'Creeping Death,' 'Sad But True' and 'Battery' inspired hearty chants. Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett even shouted out the local metal community, specifically the burgeoning RBS movement led by Sunami, Drain, Scowl and others. 'The Bay Area is so metal,' said Hammett. Singer and guitarist James Hetfield, too, flexed his regional knowledge, confidently bellowing 'Santa Clara' as opposed to 'San Francisco' like other headliners. At 61, he still cuts an imposing figure, looking clean and lean in tough leathers. His voice possesses a hefty gruff, chewing up and spitting out lyrics like gristle. 'I have the best job in the world,' Hetfield said, as he surveyed the masses. Openers Ice Nine Kills and Limp Bizkit were a mixed bag. Ice Nine Kills, a metalcore band with a theatrical bent and saxophone, were enthusiastic but more appropriate for dark theaters than late afternoon sunlight. Limp Bizkit fared better with a nostalgic set of millennial rap-rock hits like 'Nookie,' 'My Way' and 'Break Stuff.' Lead singer Fred Durst commented that while serving his country at the Alameda Naval Air Station in the late '80s, he'd often go to shows at the Warfield and the Fillmore. For the main event, Metallica commanded attention using an innovative circular stage that stretched the stadium floor approximately between the 30-yard markers. The intention was for all sections to have the feeling of the band performing right in front of you. And for extended moments, that felt true. The group periodically moved counter-clockwise to perform in each quadrant over the two-hour set. Even Lars Ulrich's drum kit was mobile, disappearing underneath the stage and reappearing in a different spot. Other times, Hetfield, Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo would splay out across the stage to connect with fans. Speakers were suspended above the stage in a unique trussing system, giving everyone a clear vantage point. That said, the newfangled stage takes some getting used to. When the band was in close quarters performing right in front of you, the show fulfilled its stated mission. But as they circulated to opposite ends, it gave flashbacks to the rotating stage concept at the old Circle Star Theater in San Carlos. To keep up, fans would rely on the eight 360-degree video screens perched overhead on top of towers. Sometimes the video director went overboard with the quick cuts, close-ups and special effects when all you wanted to see was four-on-the-stadium-floor action. The two main jumbotron video boards were turned off for the entirety of the show. Meanwhile, those who shelled out for 'Snake Pit' passes got more than their money's worth. The pit is the filet mignon-like area inside the circular stage. The standing-room-only experience gave diehards the sweaty intimacy they craved for a premium price ($2000 for both nights). During 'Sad But True,' bassist Rob Trujillo rode a platform that crowd-surfed through the pit. Outside of the pit, the general admission floor teemed with folks pressed up against the stage barrier, with up to seven moshpits breaking out in different spots. At the other end of the price spectrum, the view from the upper deck seats (starting at $60, a bargain for a show of this magnitude) was all-encompassing and loud, a decent experience for the price despite the windy conditions — pack a jacket. The band rewarded the audience's decades-long faith with a few special moments. The stage crew plucked a young kid on stage to count off 'Seek and Destroy' ('Do you have the album 'Kill Em All'? Can I borrow it?' asked Hetfield). Hammett and Trujillo debuted 'Primo,' an impromptu bluesy jam. Large, very un-metal Metallica beach balls were set loose towards the end of the show. 'The Day That Never Comes' from the 2023 album '72 Seasons' showed the group's ability to introduce new material without sacrificing momentum, Hetfield beginning the song on a stool then rising like a phoenix to finish it off. Two songs in particular stood out given current events. 'King Nothing' felt kismetic given the recent 'No Kings' protests ('Just want one thing/ Just to play the king/ But the castle's crumbled/ And you're left with just a name'). The anthemic set closer 'Master of Puppets' was equally prescient and cataclysmic. A song about drug addiction, the crowd participated in primal scream therapy — chanting 'Master! Master!' with vigor — an activity that Hetfield encouraged early on and hopefully carries on to Sunday night and beyond. 'I hope you came here to do the same thing I did, which is to get all the ugly crap out,' he said. 'Get it out, leave it right here, and breathe in all the good stuff, alright? We're here to make you feel good.' Setlist: 'Creeping Death' 'Harvester of Sorrow' 'Hit the Lights' 'King Nothing' '72 Seasons' 'If Darkness Had a Son' 'Primo (Kirk and Rob doodle)' 'The Day That Never Comes' 'Cyanide' 'Orion' 'Nothing Else Matters' 'Sad but True' 'Battery' 'Fuel' 'Seek & Destroy' 'Master of Puppets'
News18
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Metallica Singer James Hetfield Reveals Why He Has ‘The Best Job In The World'
Last Updated: Metallica singer James Hetfield spoke about how performing on stage helps him feel connected to fans. Metallica has been rocking the world for 44 years. Band members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo are set to release their new documentary, Metallica Saved My Life. The documentary celebrates the bond between the band and their fans. After the film recently premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival in New York, Hetfield spoke about how performing on stage helps him feel free and connected to fans. According to the musician, Metallica has faced many challenges together but continues to get better with time. During the Q&A session, Hetfield explained, 'When I get up on stage, I feel so much more comfortable up there than I do in regular life a lot of the times. I feel like I'm so easily able to be me with these fans, and the more I'm me, the more they like it. It's just so opposite of how I was brought up," People reported. 'Being yourself wasn't always welcomed for some reason. But speaking my truth up there and other people understanding that truth, the four of us have gone through so much together, and we care about this a lot because a lot is still happening for us even into our fourth decade as a band. It's gotten better every decade," Hetfield added. James Hetfield got candid about his recovery journey post a rehab stint in 2019 and how it changed his way of thinking about music. He shared, 'I've learned so much about myself and other people, on how to live life better and to not take things completely seriously and to be on stage and be yourself. We get to do that. I got the best job in the world. The end." Directed by Jonas Akerlund, Metallica Saved My Life 'examines the world of Metallica through the lives of their fans. For over four decades, the band and fans have supported each other through highs, lows, trials, and triumph – see it all in this brand new, as yet unfinished film." Even after 44 years, Metallica is still actively performing for fans. Right now, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo are on their M72 world tour. They are set to visit Texas, California, Colorado and Birmingham. The tour will also take them to cities in Australia like Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney. Outside of that, they will perform in Auckland, Abu Dhabi, Athens, Bucharest, Frankfurt, Zurich, Berlin, Dublin and London. First Published: June 14, 2025, 18:06 IST
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Review and Setlist: Metallica delivers heavy-hitting Tampa show
TAMPA – Enter Metallica. The reigning kings of thrash made their long-awaited return Friday, delivering a relentless sonic boom to a jam-packed Raymond James Stadium. The band, which had bypassed Tampa Bay during its last two Florida tours, treated about 70,000 acolytes to a blistering 2-hour and 5-minute, 16-song set. You could have birthed a child now old enough to drive between the time that the band had last appeared here — 5,725 days ago. (But who's counting?) The group is playing a two-show, 'no repeat weekend' with different sets and opening acts — unapologetically designed to lure hardcore followers to both nights. Friday's other performers were Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills. Sunday's bill includes Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies. Metallica has achieved enormous worldwide success built on sturdy musicianship and multilayered songs that connect with fiercely loyal fans. Power rock, speed metal, thrash or heavy metal. Call it what you will. Metallica still rules the genre. The band's M72 world tour has been in full stride since the release of its 11th studio album '72 Seasons' two years ago — the latest in a line of intense, take-no-prisoners recordings, building on a mostly brilliant resume. The group formed when 17-year-old drummer Lars Ulrich placed an ad looking for like-minded musicians in the fall of 1981. James Hetfield, who had just turned 18, showed up. He would become the singer, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist. Angry and rebellious, those two Southern California teens likely would have scoffed at the idea that they'd be doing this into their sixties. But here they are. Lucky for us. The band Friday traversed 40 years of music with a mix of anthems and obscure tracks, starting with the volcanic 'Creeping Death' off their 1984 album 'Ride the Lightning.' There is a rocket-fueled, galloping rhythm to signature Metallica music, forged by Hetfield's down-picking style and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett's searing solos. Newer songs like the title track from the last record and 'If Darkness Had a Son,' played early, cut loose like rollicking runaway trains. The show featured some of Metallica's strongest work, including 'The Day That Never Comes' — a ballad that found Hetfield seated at the start, until the band charges like a hostile rhino. 'Love is a four-letter word,' Hetfield growls. It stood as one of many first-night highlights. As for deep cuts, you can't get much deeper than the mesmerizing and melodic instrumental 'Orion' written primarily by transformational bassist Cliff Burton months before he died in a 1986 tour bus crash. Metallica only resumed playing it with the gifted Robert Trujillo, his bass slung so low at times it nearly scrapes the stage. Hetfield seemed genuinely inspired by the size of the crowd, stopping at one point to say 'I can't believe how many people came here tonight to celebrate live music with your friends from Metallica.' Later he told those attending their first show that 'we've been waiting for you, and now you're here — members of the Metallica family of Tampa Bay.' Family is forever, he would note. And that family lost its collective minds when Hammett launched into the gorgeous opening bars of 'Nothing Else Matters' from their top selling 1991 album 'Metallica.' It's as close to a real love song as anything in the hall of fame group's vast catalog, though it pulsed with energy. Fans filled a 'snake pit' inside a massive circular stage. The configuration had pros and cons. It made for a more intimate experience for those who could afford to be in the thick of it. During most of the show, however, it felt as if the quartet stood in four different zip codes. Only seldomly, like during 'Orion,' would they all congregate near each other for the duration of a song. The band closed with seething versions of 'Seek and Destroy' and 'Masters of Puppets' — essential playlist tracks for every Army tank operator who ever powered up an M1 Abrams. There would be no encore, unless you count Sunday's full show as such. Earlier in the evening, the pride of Jacksonville, Limp Bizkit, brought its own brand of fury during a high-energy — and fun — nine-song set led by frontman Fred Durst and masked guitarist Wes Borland. Durst, wearing a Japan national team Shohei Ohtani jersey, shouted out Clearwater resident Tom Cruise — a big-time Metallica fan who was apparently hanging out earlier backstage. Limp Bizkit followed every serial killer's favorite band, Ice Nine Kills. The five-member Boston-based outfit (not counting the zombies and damsels in distress that wandered or danced across the stage) buzzed through House of Horrors performance art choreographed to its music, complete with splattered blood, severed heads, hatchets and other killing tools. By mid set, I wondered when they were going to melt down last Halloween's leftover candy corn and shoot it into our veins. Here are the main downsides of the no repeat weekend: Floor tickets for a single show sold for up to $424 through Ticketmaster. A spot in the snake pit commanded $3,700 on the secondary market. Seats in Ray Jay's hinterlands, where sound quality can be a dice roll, approached $100. Even being bigger bodied came with financial consequences. Fans buying 2XL, 3XL or 4XL T-shirts had to fork over a $5 'upcharge' at the bustling merch stands. If you managed to score decent seats to both concerts, great. (Tom Cruise could afford it!) But what if you couldn't? Pick the Friday show and you ran the risk of never hearing the end of it from buddies who will see Metallica play 'Enter Sandman' 'One,' 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' 'The Unforgiven,' and 'The Call of Ktulu' — all standard second-night offerings. It's the better setlist. Go Sunday only, and there's no 'Orion.' I did a quick informal survey of fans milling around the concourse, and roughly 70% of the folks I talked to bought tickets for both nights. 'Smart marketing on their part,' one told me. In between the no repeat concerts along this tour, Metallica is fitting in one-off shows in places like Syracuse, New York, and Blacksburg, Virginia. Those concertgoers reveled in a fully-loaded final six-song feast of 'Nothing Else Matters,' 'Sad but True,' 'One,' 'Seek & Destroy,' 'Masters of Puppets' and 'Enter Sandman.' It's hard to complain when a band ends a muscular show with the potency and conviction of its riveting chosen songs. The band looked and sounded great. And it truly was a fantastic performance. But it's easy to yearn for more Metallica, especially on behalf of those Friday-only fans who've been sleeping with one eye open and gripping their pillows tight — waiting all these years for the Sandman's return. FRIDAY SETLIST 'Creeping Death' 'Harvester of Sorrow' 'Leper Messiah' 'King Nothing' '72 Seasons' 'If Darkness Had a Son' Kirk and Rob doodle ('Jalepeno Jam') 'The Day That Never Comes' 'Cyanide' 'Orion' 'Nothing Else Matters' 'Sad But True' 'Blackened' 'Fuel' 'Seek & Destroy' 'Master of Puppets' ANTICIPATED SUNDAY SETLIST These are the percentage chances that the following songs will be played based on an analysis of a full year's worth of M72 'no repeat' performances. 'Whiplash' (100%) 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' (100%) 'Ride the Lightning' (93%) 'Until It Sleeps' (53%) 'Lux Ӕterna' (93%) 'Screaming Suicide' (60%) Kirk and Rob doodle (100%) 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)' (47%) 'Wherever I May Roam' (80%) 'The Call of Ktulu' (100%) 'The Unforgiven' (100%) 'Inamorata' (73%) 'Fight Fire With Fire' (40%) 'Moth into Flame' (100%) 'One' (100%) 'Enter Sandman' (100%)
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legendary Hard Rock Band Racks Up the Heavy Metal as Iconic Album Hits Sales of 20 Million
Metallica is one of the biggest hard-rock acts in history. They're currently slaying fans on tour and their classic records continue to shift units, as two of their classic titles just reached new certification heights by the Recording Industry Assn. of America. The band has announced through their press representatives that their self-titled 1991 album, known as The Black Album, has been certified 20 times platinum for sales in excess of 20 million copies. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 That's big enough news, but in typical Metallica style, there's more. Masters of Puppets, the band's third album, has been certified eight times platinum for over 8 million in sales. The Black Album is seen as Metallica's mainstream breakthrough as it went to No. 1 in 10 different countries, including the U.S., where it spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200 beginning the chart week of Aug. 31, 1991. 'We had come off the …And Justice for All album and tour. For me, it was pretty obvious that we had taken the progressive, complicated side of Metallica as far as we could take it,' drummer, who writes the bulk of the band's songs with singer/guitarist , said in an interview for The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. 'The songs kept getting longer and more and more sideways. When we took those songs out on the road, we realized that was it. We really needed to make a major change — not so much for commercial reasons, but creatively we had exhausted that route.'During that same period, Ulrich had begun to rediscover his hard-rock roots by listening to classic sides by the Rolling Stones and AC/DC. 'The one thing in Metallica that we had not done was to really sit down and try to write a bunch of short and more to-the-point songs,' he said. 'We decided to take what we do in Metallica and make it a little more straightforward and not be so concerned about trying to show our musicianship.' The plan worked. The first song that Ulrich and Hetfield wrote for the new album was 'Enter Sandman,' which Ulrich said, 'That was the most straightforward, simplest song we had ever written. We did that in two days. That kind of set the tone for the whole record.' With producer Bob Rock, known for such classics as Motley Crue's Dr. Feelgood, on board, Metallica went on to write and record such classics as 'The Unforgiven,' 'Wherever I May Roam,' 'Nothing Else Matters' and more. 'Everyone has one album when everything comes together,' said Ulrich. 'This was ours.' Metallica is currently on the third year of its M72 World Tour, which has set attendance records at venues ranging from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. The band's next gig is Wednesday, May 28 at Northwest Stadium in Washington, D.C. Legendary Hard Rock Band Racks Up the Heavy Metal as Iconic Album Hits Sales of 20 Million first appeared on Parade on May 28, 2025
