James Hetfield on politics at gigs: 'Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you'
'Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!,' Papa Het insists
Last updated 13th Oct 2026
James Hetfield made a speech at Metallica’s latest Sphere show, insisting the heavy metal titans won’t voice political views at concerts “like some other entertainers.”
Addressing the capacity crowd at the Sphere at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas on Saturday 10th October, Papa Het said: “Unless you live in Vegas, you’ve come a long way to spend some time with Metallica.
“We’re grateful for that - your travels, the money you spend, the time it took, thanks for coming to celebrate with us.
“And I just gotta say, Metallica is not here, like some other… entertainers, to influence you with their bulls---, OK? We’re here to forget about all the outside s---, OK?
“Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!”
Although James Hetfield didn’t make a direct reference, the debate over whether concerts should be a platform for political views has intensified in recent months after US rapper Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour over his ‘free Palestine’ speech at the opening dates in New Jersey.
Papa Het previously rejected the idea of promoting political views with Metallica fans in a 2017 interview with La Tercera.
"My opinion stays with me," James said. “I’m a singer and guitar player in a rock band. 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.”
Metallica's Life Burns Faster residency at the Sphere continues on Thursday night (15th October)