The members of Metallica, the first band to perform on all seven continents, have set their sights on a new globe: the Sphere in Las Vegas. The group has confirmed it will perform eight shows at the venue, a residency it has dubbed Life Burns Faster (a lyric from “Master of Puppets”), in the fall. The concerts, grouped into two-night performances, will take place on October 1 and 3, October 15 and 17, 22 and 24, and October 29 and 31. Like the band’s “No Repeat Weekends,” Metallica promises unique setlists, including live staples and surprises, between each of the concerts across the two-night performances.
«About 12 seconds into Sphere’s opening night with U2 back in ’23, I thought, ‘We have to do this; it’s completely uncharted territory!’ said drummer Lars Ulrich in a statement. “This residency gives us another opportunity to reinvent the way we interact with our fans live. We are beyond excited to share this with the world in six months and very excited to take it to the next level!
Last August, Howard Stern attempted to break news of a Metallica Sphere residency during an interview with Ulrich. At the time, the drummer said that the group had been considering the idea, but that nothing was «set in stone» yet. “It’s something we’ll look at at some point, when the 2026 tour ends,” Ulrich said. «I’m not going to lie to you: I would love to do it, let there be no doubt about it. It’s not signed, sealed or delivered, but by talking to me and asking my opinion, I would love to do it.»
During the same interview, Ulrich refused to confirm a residence, “but I’m not going to deny it, because we are all big fans of this place.” He went on to tell Stern that the band’s managers and production staff had visited the Sphere and seen it, adding that he was at the Sphere the night it opened with U2’s residency in 2023. “When they went on that stage, I wanted to see it for myself before I watched it on YouTube or read about it,” he said. “I was there, like everyone else who was there that night, I was completely blown away and felt like it was the beginning of another chapter in live performance.”
Individual tickets and “No Repeat Weekend” tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. PT on March 6. Fans can pre-register for tickets and information on presales, upgraded experiences and travel packages on the band’s website.
The band, who are still touring to promote their 2023 album, 72 stationsHe has concerts scheduled throughout Europe this summer. The latest dates announced so far are a two-night affair at England’s London Stadium on July 5.
Last year, Metallica performed at Ozzy Osbourne’s final concert and a small concert in the Hamptons to promote their SiriusXM radio station. But they also have a history of giving great concerts, such as the show in Antarctica that capped their tour of all seven continents, the concerts with the San Francisco Symphony and the shows that formed the basis for their through the never IMAX concert film.
Since U2 christened Sphere, which features giant immersive 16K screens and a custom-built «immersive» sound system, it has become a destination for big bands to take up residence. The Eagles currently have several dates scheduled there. In the past, Phish, Dead & Company, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and Backstreet Boys have held residencies at Sphere. The rest of the year will see Illenium, No Doubt, Carín Leon and Phish return to Sphere.
