Metallica, James Hetfield and the Politics of Music

Sorry, Matt Taibbi: Metallica is political, too

The political evolution of the “New Atheist” polemicist Christopher Hitchens was once described as “the first ever metamorphosis from a butterfly back into a slug.” The intervening...

Metallica’s best act of rebellion? No political lectures

I was scrolling in bed when a clip of James Hetfield at the Sphere in Las Vegas came across my feed. I watched it three times.He thanked the crowd for traveling to see Metallica, then said the band wasn’t there, like some other entertainers, to influence anybody. “Metallica’s agenda is love, energy, and heavy music, baby!”The second you make half your audience feel unwelcome, you have a problem. Nobody buys a ticket to see a spokesperson.The pla…

Metallica, James Hetfield and the Politics of Music

Metallica frontman James Hetfield emphasized during the band's Las Vegas Sphere residency that their purpose is to share love and heavy music, rather than politicize their platform. This stance contrasts with other artists like Macklemore and David Draiman, highlighting the debate on musicians' roles in expressing political views amidst their performances.