James Hetfield Tells Sphere Crowd Metallica Won’t Push a Political Agenda

James Hetfield used a break between songs at Metallica’s Las Vegas Sphere residency show on Saturday, October 10, 2026, to make clear his band has no interest in pushing political messages from the stage. Without naming anyone, the frontman drew a contrast between Metallica and unnamed “other entertainers” who he suggested use their platforms to promote an agenda.

“Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their bullshit, OK?” Hetfield told the crowd. “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!”

Before making that point, Hetfield thanked the audience for traveling to Las Vegas for the show. “Unless you live in Vegas, you’ve come a long way to spend some time with Metallica… your travels, the money you spend, the time it took, thanks for coming to celebrate with us,” he said.

Does James Hetfield’s Comment Reference Any Specific Artist?

Hetfield did not call out any performer by name during his remarks at the Sphere. The comments arrived weeks after rapper Macklemore was dropped as a support act on Ed Sheeran’s stadium tour following an onstage speech in support of Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza. Reporting on the fallout notes that Sheeran’s remaining support acts, including Finneas and Aaron Rowe, along with his backing band, subsequently left the tour as well in a show of solidarity, and that Macklemore has said Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft played a key role in his removal.

Coverage of Hetfield’s remarks also pointed out that they came about a week after Tom Morello organized the politically oriented Power to the People festival.

James Hetfield’s History of Avoiding Political Statements

Hetfield’s stage comments echo positions he has voiced in past interviews. Speaking to Chilean outlet La Tercera in 2017, he said, “I hate politics. I don’t wanna talk about politics. It’s not important to me. What’s important to me is connecting people with music. Politics, religion… they separate people.”

In a 2016 BBC interview tied to the release of Hardwired…to Self-Destruct, Hetfield offered a similar sentiment, saying, “We stay away from politics from religion. That just seems to polarize people even more. We all have our own beliefs but, at the end of the day, we’re trying to connect with people.”

Metallica’s Sphere Residency and Setlist Update

The October 10 concert marked the fourth show of Metallica’s 24-date residency at the Sphere, which runs on Thursdays and Saturdays across select weeks through March 2027. At that performance, the band brought “Until It Sleeps” from the 1996 album Load into the set for the first time during the residency, pairing the song with a display of the album’s artwork using the venue’s visual technology.

More Info

• James Hetfield explains why you won’t get any political statements at a Metallica show | Louder / Classic Rock
• James Hetfield at Sphere: Metallica Is Not Here, Like Some Other Entertainers, To Influence You with Their Bullshit | Consequence
• James Hetfield: Metallica Is Not Here to Influence You With Bull**** | Metal Injection
• Metallicas James Hetfield calls out entertainers who influence you with their bullshit at the Sphere | Far Out Magazine
• James Hetfield Calls Out ‘Other Entertainers’ With an Agenda | Loudwire