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 place went nuts. I might have cheered a little myself.

Hetfield has never been one for political sermons. Lars Ulrich, who leans left, has said the two hardly ever talk politics. They’ve spent more than 40 years in a band together and somehow managed. Their fans have too.

I spent my