Metallica: Hetfield's words divide fans. Mötley Crüe also want politics out of concerts

Anger and disappointment among Metallica fans over James Hetfield's comments on the relationship between music and politics. His choice to frame the concert as a space to forget the world's problems, coupled with a jab at artists who use the stage to voice their own views, has reignited the debate: for some it's simply an invitation to enjoy the music, for others an unacceptable message, all the more so coming from a band that has sung about war, violence and abuses of power throughout its career.

Mötley Crüe have taken a similar stance. In a video shared on X, bassist Nikki Sixx waded into the debate over the relationship between music and politics, claiming the band isn't interested in its audience's political views. The remarks feed into the discussion sparked by the Metallica frontman's comments.
But what exactly did Hetfield say? The speech dates back to the October 10 show at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where the band is in the midst of a residency set to run through March. The singer began by thanking the crowd for the effort it took to get to the city and see the show: "Unless you live in Las Vegas, you took quite a trip to spend some time with Metallica. We're grateful for that. The trip you took, the money you spent, the time it took... thank you for coming to celebrate with us."
Then, after a brief pause, came the line that drew the strongest reactions: "Metallica isn't here like other entertainers to influence you with their bullshit." Hetfield then spelled out what he believes the night should be about: "We're here to forget about all the shit going on in the world out there, OK? Metallica's agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby."

The reference to "other entertainers" gave his words the tone of a jab at fellow musicians who speak out on political and social issues – from Macklemore to Springsteen, from Massive Attack to Kneecap – even though Hetfield didn't name names or mention Gaza, Palestine, or any other specific cause. As for the relationship between their music and institutions, Metallica had already weighed in back in July 2025, when the US Department of Defense used "Enter Sandman" in a social media video without authorization. The band got it taken down.

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google