During Metallica’s concert at the Las Vegas Sphere on Saturday (Oct. 10), James Hetfield took a moment to address “other entertainers” who use their musical platform to promote an agenda, affirming that his band will never engage in such behavior.

What Did James Hetfield Say to the Sphere Audience?

In his brief remarks between songs, the frontman expressed gratitude to the crowd, stating, “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.”

In footage shared by YouTube account @RealityRedemption1, he added, “I just gotta say, Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their bullshit, okay? We are here… no bullshit… we’re here to forget about all the outside shit, okay? Metallica’s agenda is love, energy and heavy music, baby!”

Metallica’s James Hetfield Addresses Las Vegas’ Sphere Crowd (Oct. 10, 2026)

What Has James Hetfield Previously Said About Politics in Music?

Back in 2016, James Hetfield emphasized while promoting the Hardwired … to Self-Destruct album that the band avoids divisive subject matter.

In an interview with the BBC at that time, he remarked, “There’s a lot of polarization going on in the United States, and I see it other places as well. But it just seems like you have to get more extreme to balance out the other extreme.”

He continued, “We’ve got to find some balance in the middle here somewhere. We stay away from politics and 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 and it seems like political views don’t do that as much as music does.”

What Else Metallica Fans Got at Saturday’s Sphere Show

While James Hetfield’s remarks about “other entertainers” garnered attention, there was another significant addition to the band’s residency performance in Las Vegas. For the first time since the run began at the start of October, Metallica included the hit song “Until It Sleeps” from their 1996 album Load in their setlist, according to setlist.fm.

Utilizing the Sphere’s visual technology, Metallica created an effect where the controversial artwork from the album appeared to float throughout the venue.

The band performed two different sets during their first weekend and plans to continue this format with some changes. During their third Sphere performance last Thursday (Oct. 8), they debuted “Fade to Black” as part of their residency run. The setlist closely mirrored that of opening night; however, “Fade to Black” replaced “The Day That Never Comes,” and “Orion” took the place of “The Call of Ktulu.”

READ MORE: Metallica Fans Name the ‘Rare’ Songs They Wished the Band Played Live More

There are four remaining weekends at the Sphere for 2026 with shows each Thursday and Saturday through Nov. 7. The band also has two shows scheduled in Uncasville, Ct., on Nov. 19 and 21 to conclude the year. Additional Sphere shows are planned for 2027 along with more tour dates.

Stay updated on all stops and ticketing information through the band’s website.

Below, see the favorite Metallica album of 45 prominent rock and metal musicians.