James Hetfield: "We Don’t Want to Be a Legacy Band That Only Plays Hits"

METALLICA’s James Hetfield has made it pretty clear that they’re not interested in simply coasting on past glories. In an interview on “The Metallica Report”—that podcast where the band gives you a peek behind the curtain—James laid it out. When asked how the experiences from the “M72” world tour in 2023 and 2024 will influence the newly announced 2025 “M72” shows, Hetfield didn’t hesitate to explain. “We certainly don’t wanna be a legacy band that just plays their greatest hits,” he said (via Blabbermouth). Oh, they’ll play the hits, but they’re not about to become a glorified jukebox.

What’s driving this push to stay fresh? According to James, it’s a mix of confidence and not overindulging in the new stuff either. “I think 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,” he said.

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Metallica M72CDMX Weekend 2, Night 1 — Images: @photosbyjeffyeager / Instagram

It’s all about balance—playing the fan favorites but also throwing in the new material to keep things interesting. Sure, the crowd wants to hear the classics, but James says it’s about challenging the audience, too. You’re not going to get just a greatest-hits setlist with them, and honestly, that’s refreshing.

And then there’s the chaos of live performance. Hetfield had no problem pointing out how things don’t always go according to plan. “We know people wanna hear the ‘best of’. And you’ve gotta challenge them to listen to some of the new stuff as well, ‘cause we certainly don’t wanna be a legacy band that just plays their greatest hits and then that’s it,” James added. He goes on to explain that mistakes, if you can even call them that, are just part of the live experience.

“All mistakes are a part of the show. That’s part of what we say before we go out: hey, all mistakes are free.” In classic Hetfield fashion, he pokes fun at the idea of mistakes, calling it a “ridiculous” word and instead reframing it as just a “unique way of playing it that night.” So, yeah, when something goes off-script, they just roll with it—and the fans? They love it.

He even shared a story about some of these “mistakes” and how the band handles them. “When a song falls apart, and it could be devastating to other bands, for us, it’s just, ‘Okay. We fuck*d it up. Let’s start it again.’” That attitude gives the band a certain freedom on stage. Forget a whole middle section of the song? No problem.

As James says, they’ll just play it for you at the end. It’s that kind of authenticity that keeps METALLICA fans coming back, knowing that what they’re witnessing isn’t rehearsed perfection but real, in-the-moment artistry. You don’t get that from just any band.

With that mindset in place, it’s no surprise that METALLICA announced the 2025 leg of their “M72” world tour, with 21 North American shows spanning April to June. Highlights? Six “No Repeat Weekends”—meaning different setlists and openers for each show—and two headline sets at festivals, including Sick New World in Vegas and Sonic Temple in Ohio. So, if you’re tired of the same old, same old, METALLICA might just be your antidote.

Tickets for these shows went on sale September 27, with PANTERA, LIMP BIZKIT, ICE NINE KILLS, and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES joining the lineup to bring some variety to those No Repeat Weekends. Expect different support acts each night—just don’t expect METALLICA to hit autopilot anytime soon.

Proceeds from ticket sales will continue supporting local charities via METALLICA’s All Within My Hands foundation, proving the band isn’t just phoning it in after all these years.

For more details straight from the source, you can check out the full episode of “The Metallica Report” where Hetfield drops all the insights here.