Although frontman James Hetfield doesn’t want Metallica to rely just on their previous songs, the band may still be a very successful touring act even if they never put out another album. He finds it crucial that the renowned metal band keeps making new music because of this.
The majority of Metallica’s most well-known songs have been performed on their current “M72 World Tour,” which recently revealed a new 2025 North American leg (tickets available here). But Hetfield and company have also been playing songs from their critically praised album 72 Seasons, released in 2023.
Hetfield said, “I think that the confidence, the fact that the 72 Seasons album is well received and some of the songs that we’re playing live work and they kind of fit seamlessly in with all the catalog, all the albums we have,” in a recent appearance on The Metallica Report podcast (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). We’re not scared of it, but we’re also not overdoing it. Since we don’t want to be a legacy band that only performs their greatest hits, you have to challenge people to listen to some of the new material as well. We know that people want to hear the “best of.”
“It’s all a part of it,” he continued. Being on stage and knowing that, hey, any faults are part of the performance, is what I believe gives us and the stage confidence. We say something like, “Hey, all mistakes are free,” before we go. It’s also not an error. To be honest, that word is somewhat absurd. things’s just a different method of doing things that evening. Whatever occurs at that moment, everyone gets to experience it. And to be honest, I believe it to be difficult.
As previously announced, Metallica will start their 2025 leg of the “M72 World Tour” in April. Suicidal Tendencies, Ice Nine Kills, Limp Bizkit, and Pantera will provide support for the excursion.
Use the button below to listen to James Hetfield’s appearance on The Metallica Report podcast.