The frontman tested positive for COVID-19
Metallica have postponed the second show of their M72 World Tour stop in Phoenix, Arizona. The show was slated for tomorrow, September 3, at State Farm Stadium. Frontman James Hetfield has tested positive for COVID-19, and is unable to perform.
“We’re very sorry to report that tomorrow’s scheduled M72 date at State Farm Stadium has been postponed to Saturday, September 9, 2023, as unfortunately Covid has caught up with James,” the band said in a statement. “We’re extremely disappointed and regret any inconvenience this has caused for you; we look forward to returning to complete the M72 No Repeat Weekend in Glendale next Saturday. All tickets for September 3 will be honored at the September 9 show. For more information, including refund details if you cannot join next weekend, please visit SeatGeek.com. Keep your eyes on Metallica.com and our socials for additional details and updates. All M72 Weekend Takeover events scheduled for today and tomorrow (September 2 and September 3) are still happening.”
Metallica played their first show in Phoenix last night. According to Ed Masley of the Arizona Republic, the band played an abbreviated set because Hetfield was having vocal issues. He said, “Metallica did appear to play a shorter set than they’ve been doing, though. Every opening night since this tour hit the States has been a 16-song performance following ‘Seek & Destroy’ with a set-closing ‘Master of Puppets.'”
Masley added, “Hetfield did appear to relinquish his lead-singing duties to the audience more often as the night wore on, but I thought it was just to make the crowd feel more like part of the performance.”
YouTuber Stadia Vlogs shared video of Metallica performing “Seek & Destroy last night in Phoenix, and he stated: “Metallica played ‘Seek & Destroy’ as their last song for their Friday show in Glendale Arizona at State Farm Stadium. They were supposed to play ‘Master of Puppets” last, but James [Hetfield] started losing his voice. Hopefully it returns by Sunday.”
Metallica kicked off the North American leg of their M72 World Tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, US over the first weekend in August. The band performed two shows on Friday, August 4 and Sunday, August 6. They performed two cuts from their latest record 72 Seasons live for the first time – “Shadows Follow” and “Too Far Gone?” Other highlights included “The Unforgiven,” “Blackened,” “One,” “Enter Sandman,” Creeping Death,” “Battery,” “Sad but True,” “Seek & Destroy,” and “Master of Puppets.” They also pulled out a few rare gems like “Welcome Home (Sanitarium), “Wherever I May Roam,” “Harvester of Sorrow,” and “King Nothing,” plus instrumentals “The Call of Ktulu” and “Orion.”
In October, Metallica are performing at Power Trip in Indio, California. The bill is stacked with fellow rock icons Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, and Tool. The 2023 North American leg of Metallica’s M72 World Tour wraps up with two shows at Ford Field in Detroit on November 10 and November 12.
Metallica’s eleventh studio album 72 Seasons arrived on April 14 via the band’s own label, Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, 72 Seasons is Metallica’s first full length collection of new material since 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. The 12-track album clocks in at just over 77 minutes. It was released in formats including 2LP 140-gram black vinyl and limited edition variants, CD and digital download.
Speaking about the record prior to its release, Hetfield said, “72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”