There are two pieces in Metallica’s large song catalog that singer James Hetfield would like to leave out at concerts.
With their “M72” world tour, Metallica are once again making metal history. The band has been playing concerts since 2023, there are now a total of 83 gigs – and things will continue in May.
It should be clear that such a concert tour places certain demands on the musicians. Now singer James Hetfield talked about it in a podcast “The Metallica Report”that there are two songs from Metallica that he finds “difficult” to play live.
“I guess we all have certain things that give us headaches. ‘Moth Into Flame’ and ‘Master of Puppets’ are two of them that can be really tough,” Hetfield said. “I’m sure Lars [Ulrich] has his list, we all have it. But we fight through it and help each other through it.”
Editorial recommendations
James Hetfield reveals Metallica stage secret
Surprisingly, he also revealed the secret that the positioning of the circular stage in the middle of the fans also has something to do with the age of the band. According to this, it allows the musicians to be more in touch with the energy of the audience because the front row is much larger. Hetfield: “I think it’s a testament to being human and aging as you naturally do, and developing a sense of what your body can and can’t handle.”
However, the 62-year-old assured that he and the rest of the group take good care of themselves, which is why they are still able to tour with an album and play “fast heavy metal music” for years.
Art breaks are a must for mature metal veterans. As the singer also confirmed, the number of performances in a year would be deliberately limited in order to take necessary breaks. In 2025, Metallica gave 29 concerts, in 2024 there were 28 and in 2023 the band played a total of 26 gigs.
Metallica was last seen in Germany in May 2024 in Hamburg and Munich. Now it’s Frankfurt’s turn again in May 2026 (May 22nd and 24th). There will be a performance in the Berlin Olympic Stadium on May 30th.
___________________________________
Pre-order now: Exclusive 7-inch single “Baltimore”/“Stare” by Prince in MUSIKEXPRRESS 03/26
We are opening the year 2026 with a unique and extraordinary collaboration: on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his death, ROLLING STONE and MUSIKEXPRESS are releasing two world-exclusive vinyl singles by Prince.
A few months before his death, the genius of the century had recorded two albums that once again show him in top form and will be re-released in the new year: “HITnRUN Phase I” and “Phase II”. These were to remain his last works. For “Phase I” he worked with singers such as Rita Ora and Lianne La Havas. “Phase II” shows him as a political observer of his time.
The March issue of MUSIKEXPRESS features a second world exclusive Prince single: “Baltimore” / “Stare”, two songs from HITnRUN Phase II. Prince wrote the ballad-like “Baltimore” under the impression of racist police violence in the USA. Both editions are also available HERE together in a bundle at the special price of EUR 19.90.
Included in delivery: MUSIKEXPRESS issue 03/2026 + exclusive Prince 7″ vinyl single