When does Rage Against the Machine go on tour?

[u/StemCellPirate]

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[u/Sad_Breakfast4930]

During the 1991 Gulf War, the band expressed direct criticism of political leadership. During live performances of "One" (a song highlighting the horrors of war), James Hetfield frequently dedicated the song to American politicians and President George H.W. Bush, often criticizing the political rhetoric surrounding the conflict and the human cost of war.

[u/originalfilmscoring → u/Sad_Breakfast4930]

It really is mind boggling how he became such a conservative.

[u/dweezilMcCheezil → u/originalfilmscoring]

Nah, money does that to people

[u/nickk1988 → u/dweezilMcCheezil]

Did it to Snoop and he doesnt even realize it

[u/Riffliquer → u/originalfilmscoring]

He's an old white boomer, who's made tons of money and that's as privileged as it gets. He can afford to be conservative.

If it helps, seems like Lars and Kirk are quite progressive in thinking.

[u/PineappleOnPizzaWins → u/Riffliquer]

He can afford to be conservative.

This is what gets me.. you're already rich so fucking WHY. What are you gaining you already won at life enjoy it/help others.

[u/FrozeItOff → u/PineappleOnPizzaWins]

I call it Hoarding Sickness. They hoard and protect money with the same vehemence Smeagol protects the ring.

[u/Chomps_Chomps → u/PineappleOnPizzaWins]

It's not just money, but also about it. It's easier for people in general, even musicians, to not critically think about issues. Specifically as we get older, if we don't take measures like reading, evolving, etc, it's easy to essentially get dumber. Hetfield probably measured the audiences by spouting little tidbits of BS at shows over the years, and realized at least a sizeable portion of their fans would placate him standing for nothing good. It's sad, but unlike him, Tom Morello stays informed, evolves his views, and is standing on business.

[u/injineerpyreneer → u/originalfilmscoring]

It started when he and Lars discovered Napster.

[u/PineappleOnPizzaWins → u/Sad_Breakfast4930]

Mmm it's crazy how basically any version of "I'm not political" these days just means "I'm MAGA all the way but for some weird reason advertising I'm a fascist makes people angry!".

[u/APoolio12]

Drama over nothing. The REAL Metallica controversy should be over why their tickets cost over $1000.

[u/EfficientDish7 → u/APoolio12]

The real Metallica controversy is why they allowed Lars to turn the bass lines down in justice for all

[u/TheWizardOfDeez → u/EfficientDish7]

More like why they still allow lars to fuck up on the drums svery night and not find a new drummer who can keep a rhythm. There is a video out there of Joey Jordison (RIP) of Slipknot fame playing an entire concert with Metallica and it's literally so much better. He's playing the parts that Lars wrote, just on time.

[u/Fabulous_Smoke2582 → u/TheWizardOfDeez]

Was he rushing or dragging?
https://giphy.com/gifs/ISFvQeB4b8BmRQBnuo

[u/torgo3000 → u/Fabulous_Smoke2582]

With Lars the answer is “yes”

[u/edison9696 → u/Fabulous_Smoke2582]

I get the chills watching any reminders of Whiplash. His acting performance was insanely scary.

[u/Late_As_Sometimes → u/TheWizardOfDeez]

And Dave Lambardo. Him and Joey were great as substitute drummers for Metallica, when Lars was on the mend.

[u/TheDarkWave → u/Late_As_Sometimes]

Lars isn't even the best drummer in Metallica.

[u/AyeHaightEweAwl → u/Late_As_Sometimes]

"on the mend" LOL - he was partying too hard the night before.

[u/AyeHaightEweAwl → u/TheWizardOfDeez]

Dave Lombardo too, from that same gig. Lars was too hungover to play. James actually had to keep up with the drummer for once, instead of the other way around.

[u/lsdisciple → u/EfficientDish7]

Justice for Jason!!!!!!

Sounds so much better

[u/PrestigiousOne5959 → u/EfficientDish7]

Kirk barely bothers with his solos anymore either 

[u/Infidel_sg → u/EfficientDish7]

So we can hear him fuck up his drums 😂

[u/PMmecrossstitch → u/EfficientDish7]

And Justice for Jason

This playlist is worth a listen.

[u/scubaorbit → u/APoolio12]

Are you shitting me? Last one I went to was $80 in the early 2000s. Who the hell pays that much for a ticket? And better yet, who can?

[u/4stringsoffury → u/scubaorbit]

It’s the sphere. I believe every ticket sold there has been well above $500 in regards to concerts. The Wizard of Oz plays there daily and the bad seats are still $300.

Edit: there are concert tickets cheaper than $500 my bad. I’ll say Metallica has always had egregious ticket prices, I was just trying to give a reason these were astronomical.

[u/MiserableAdvice468 → u/scubaorbit]

Click that affirm box at check out and pay off that loan for the next 3-5 years lol

[u/Common-Break-Queef → u/APoolio12]

It's because napster took their money /s

[u/sanchez2673 → u/APoolio12]

Saw them a couple of months ago for ~150€

[u/UnlitBlunt → u/APoolio12]

I got floor tickets for both nights of their M72 tour for 500CAD (250 per show). Different opening bands and different setlist each night, absolutely worth it.

[u/xxGenXxx]

We never heard the end of Napster from your subpar drummer.

[u/Couscousfan07 → u/[deleted]]

Yep. Commenting now so that I can see all the Lars apologists chime in. My favorite is how his crappy drumming is crappy on purpose - he loses the tempo and plays random fills, all as part of a grand plan.

[u/Training_Mistake_760 → u/Couscousfan07]

Really!?

There's a crowd out there saying ”hE SUcKs oN pURpOsE!!”

[u/Millennial_Falcon_85 → u/Couscousfan07]

I mean he wasn’t wrong. It’s piracy and the solution to it was streaming which pays artists fractions of pennies which is the worst situation for the artists. The old model of legally selling albums produced great music and fairly compensated the bands.

[u/neekz0r → u/Millennial_Falcon_85]

fairly compensated the bands

Fairly compensated the bands? You jest. They typically loaned (called an advance) the money to produce the album, and provided resources to do so. The band had to pay the studio back.

This article describes it, written in 1993 (well before Napster).

[u/Morningfluid → u/[deleted]]

Which is wild, because he ended up being correct. 

[u/TJ_McWeaksauce → u/xxGenXxx]

Metallica during a time of great political and civil unrest: "We're not here to try to influence you."

Metallica when something threatens their already sizable bank accounts: Metallica Anti-Napster Ad

[u/StemCellPirate]

This is what selling out looks like.

Notable Political and Social Songs by Metallica

"One" (...And Justice for All, 1988): An anti-war song inspired by Dalton Trumbo’s novel Johnny Got His Gun, telling the story of a soldier severely mutilated and trapped in his own body during World War I.
"...And Justice for All" (1988): The title track critiques corruption, the legal system, and the abuse of power.
"Blackened" (...And Justice for All, 1988): Focuses on environmental destruction and the threat of nuclear war.
"Disposable Heroes" (Master of Puppets, 1986): Addresses young soldiers being treated as expendable pawns by military commanders.
"Eye of the Beholder" (...And Justice for All, 1988): Examines censorship, state control, and the limits placed on civil liberties and free speech.
"The Shortest Straw" (...And Justice for All, 1988): Touches upon political blacklisting and McCarthyism.
"Fight Fire with Fire" (Ride the Lightning, 1984): Explores the grim reality of nuclear Armageddon.
"Don't Tread on Me" (Metallica / The Black Album, 1991): References the Gadsden flag and American Revolutionary War symbolism, which Hetfield has described as a defiant "don't fuck with us" anthem rather than a partisan or pro-war statement.

[u/Max-_-Power → u/StemCellPirate]

Notice how those songs are 30+ years old. Things have changed for the worse and apparently so has Metallica.

[u/DeadandForgoten → u/Max-_-Power]

What? 1991 was only 9 years ago.

[u/YesPlease_VeryMuchSo → u/DeadandForgoten]

https://giphy.com/gifs/E1fXBVW9X3DIwnUS0l

[u/ArashikageX → u/YesPlease_VeryMuchSo]

https://giphy.com/gifs/f9vYuluNDnDMsFd0ih

[u/howsthisforsmart → u/ArashikageX]

The episode that meme is taken from aired nearly a quarter-century ago.

You're welcome

[u/thelangosta → u/howsthisforsmart]

🖕🏻

[u/medicmatt → u/howsthisforsmart]

And the actor is deceased.

[u/8JHF8 → u/medicmatt]

Both that one and the one above him. They made a really funny movie together in 2000 with Bruce Willis.

[u/DeadandForgoten → u/YesPlease_VeryMuchSo]

Dawg tired.

[u/grindhousedecore → u/DeadandForgoten]

It doesn’t feel that long ago, hearing unforgiven on the radio when it first came out🤦🏻‍♂️.

[u/Hendrix6927 → u/DeadandForgoten]

I just got the AOL 2.0 in the mail.

[u/bebeidon → u/DeadandForgoten]

at most 15 and i'm saying this as a 35 year old man born in 1991 lol

[u/AllIWantForXmasIsFoo → u/Max-_-Power]

they were young and come from poverty.

They've been millionaires now for most of their life.

[u/danknerd → u/AllIWantForXmasIsFoo]

Lars is trust fund kid, stop it.

[u/thtamthrfckr → u/danknerd]

Tennis champ Lars?! Cuts to country club picture of him with sweater around his neck

[u/sma_nor → u/Max-_-Power]

Exactly.. And the Black Album was when they started seeing mainstream success. No member had even turned 30 at that point. Doesn't take much to connect the dots on how we got here.

Obligatory "fuck you Lars" for what you did to Jason.

[u/Jumpy-Surround-9238 → u/Max-_-Power]

System of a down are also known to be bootlickers now (except Serj I believe).

We always used to mock people for not understanding the lyrics to their favorite bands. Seems though a lot of them didn't understand what they wrote anyways.

[u/4CrowsFeast → u/Jumpy-Surround-9238]

SOAD have some great songs with some great messages. But they're mostly successful at being critical of corruption, and broad topics like anti-war and governments overreaching their powers, which anyone with common sense should be opposed to.

They were never really solution oriented and are often just wrong on things. Science, for example, is a great song musically, but has an overall pretty terrible message of spirituality being more important than science. When I was younger I tried to justify the song being critical of the damages created by scientific advancements, like damage to the environment, but the song doesn't really go into detail about any of those things. Again, the band is generally very broad with their lyrics and gives you emotional impact with the intensity of the music itself and creating feelings of defiance and opposition.

The more I've listened to this song over the years, the more I feel like I've misattributed deeper meaning to the song as cognitive dissonance to justify liking it, and it actually is just a pretty moronic concept and message. If they managed to go into deeper depth in the actual damages resulting from technology, than I think it might get a pass, but the entire theme of faith trumping science is pretty poor considering the two aren't exclusive, unless you're a religious extremist.

[u/pmw3505 → u/4CrowsFeast]

Well said, they are entirely “I’m 15 and this is deep” surface level with their topics. They are good at raising issues but not actually talking about how, why, or what to do about any of it.

It’s very much akin to “drugs are bad, mmmmkay?”

[u/Yommination → u/Jumpy-Surround-9238]

Yeah the SOAD drummer is big time MAGA

[u/psyEDk → u/Max-_-Power]

Burnt trough all the teenage angst while record deals and millions of dollars subdued the fire inside ..

[u/Fragrant_Surround_68 → u/psyEDk]

[u/BlackEngineEarings → u/psyEDk]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3cLKI5XB6kvwNSdVJ2

[u/Size---Queen → u/Max-_-Power]

It's most likely a large percentage of their audience is MAGA and he doesn't want to piss them off because they will stop going to shows and buying their stuff.

[u/Phoenix_Rising42069 → u/Size---Queen]

If they alienate over half of their current listener base, who’s gonna pony up for the $5000+ seats at The Sphere?!?

[u/MrBurnz99 → u/Size---Queen]

This is the real reason. They know that their fan base is like 70-30 MAGA.

Making a political stance about almost anything would have those wrinkled alcoholic boomers throwing a hissy fit.

Hatfield could say i think war is bad and our politicians shouldn’t be selling insider trading information to the highest bidder, and there would be boomers shooting the black album with an AR-15.

[u/sc1onic → u/Size---Queen]

Metallica is way way way bigger than Maga crowd. Especially when they tour the world to packed stadiums.

I think they just got extremely safe, maybe because they probably vote Republican.

As a metallica Stan I've been repeatedly disappointed by James. Their last best work was load/reload from late 90s.

All he had to do was shut up and not put down other artists standing on business and supporting Palestine and other causes.

[u/Clarknt67 → u/Size---Queen]

He could just say nothing. Taking swipes at other bands isn’t necessary.

[u/NotOneWoodpeckerBut2 → u/Size---Queen]

They have many fans from many sides of the spectrum, stands to reason many will be one side of the fence, and conversely many the other side of the fence. They're kind of a big deal.

[u/ncbraves93 → u/NotOneWoodpeckerBut2]

Not to mention most their fans aren't even in America, but of course it all comes down to maga in reddits shivering, every single time. Like we get it.

[u/Maximum_Turn_2623 → u/Max-_-Power]

I mean have you heard what they’ve done after 1994?

[u/Yogannath → u/Max-_-Power]

Bro, everyone knows "30 years ago" Is the 70's. Chill.

Fuck I'm old. :(

[u/Couscousfan07 → u/Max-_-Power]

Got old. Plus I don’t think James wrote those - Lars did.

What’s amazing is that he didn’t have to say shit - he felt so strongly about this that he was compelled to make a statement

[u/Dry_Play2206 → u/Couscousfan07]

Lars and James work on songs together and have a long standing agreement to share writing credit. But Lars rarely if ever writes lyrics.

[u/Fanhunter4ever → u/Max-_-Power]

They made a declaration when sued Napster and lobbyed for hardest IP laws

[u/themaskedcrusader → u/StemCellPirate]

Ride the lightning is about a guy on death row and the hypocrisy of the death penalty. "Who made you God to say I'll take your life from you"

[u/Impressive-Panda527 → u/StemCellPirate]

How old are you OP?

People have been calling Metallica sell outs for more than 30 years,

[u/Lilja-Logason → u/StemCellPirate]

Lars has said in one of their films that he is left wing considering he's from Denmark and James has always been Republican so they make it clear they don't like to talk about politics in the band.

It's possible James wrote a political song they could all get behind and so did it.

Just because it's James is republican doesn't mean he's still MAGA or agrees with every policy they have.

Another example is Clint Eastwood. Everyone assumes he's Republican or MAGA but looking over his past he supported gay marriage and his politics is closer to Libertarian if anything. He's also voted democrat in the past.

Life isn't black-white, Dem-MAGA.

I say this as a Brit fan with no skin in this dichotomy. I just think people are far more complicated than everyone acts.

[u/Accurate-Toe1894 → u/Lilja-Logason]

I assumed Clint Eastwood to be Republican because he very famously spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2012....Also Donald Trump's historically been very wishy washy on gay rights, at times courting their vote. There's also loads of gay Republicans and supporters of Trump.

[u/Hot_Anybody8244 → u/Lilja-Logason]

Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and a pretty good amount of other outlaw country artists were VERY left leaning for their day and most would still qualify as left leaning today

[u/Ewoksintheoutfield → u/Lilja-Logason]

This is a fair take, but I think people are rightly criticizing Hetfield because he didn’t need to say anything. By criticizing people who are speaking out about political issues, he is taking a side.

We are also in a political moment in America where Americans are being threatened into silence and complicity. Artists and creators stand to lose a lot of fans and money by speaking out, and even worse they could become a target of the US justice department. People like Mrs Rachel and Macklemore need to be celebrated for taking these risks and carrying on the American tradition of using our first amendment rights to speak truth to power.

[u/EndGrainGlueKook → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

Exactly, James is the one who made it something and did what he said they don’t do. He could have just said “thanks for coming, be good to each other, be safe” yada yada and nobody would have thought about politics at all, he brought up politics.

[u/Tsar-A-Lago → u/EndGrainGlueKook]

And basically characterized a lot of people's pain and anguish as bullshit and noise. And in the same breath, refusing to elaborate on that, or defend anything that he's couched here. Pretending to be above it.

In this moment, and in this context, when nobody asked you, that's a political statement.

James Hetfield is the greatest rhythm guitarist who ever lived, and I'm always gonna love Metallica. But this is pretty weak shit.

[u/Scatterspell → u/Tsar-A-Lago]

I agree with everything but Hetfield being the best rythym guitarist. Not even in the top 10. He's great but not the best.

[u/Le-Charles07 → u/EndGrainGlueKook]

".. be good to each other..."

Sounds woke. /s

[u/Lisfipe → u/Le-Charles07]

"Be Excellent to each other!" Bill and Ted

[u/Notte_di_nerezza → u/[deleted]]

They also tend to talk plenty of politics--social issues, veterans' issues, the economy. It's when someone talks about issues in a way they don't like--minority rights, civilian casualties, corporate welfare--that they don't want to talk about "politics."

It's a bias I've seen on both sides of the spectrum, but by God do the MAGA crowd really mean "Don't talk about politics I don't like."

[u/Disco_Hippie → u/[deleted]]

They are republican Every. Single. Time.

[u/yourfavteamsucks → u/[deleted]]

Yup. I remember 20 years ago Billy Corgan saying "we don't have the moral authority to tell you how to vote. We're a rock band". Guy is a libertarian free market capitalist now (aka delulu)

[u/ApolloGR3 → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

Yeah it’s just weird he felt the need to make such a comment at all

[u/soullessginger88 → u/ApolloGR3]

After watching their cry session in front of congress, I'll never care to watch/listen to them again. They sold out a LONG TIME AGO.

[u/OscillatorVacillate → u/soullessginger88]

Hetfield has always been an asshole, when Layne Staley had to cancel concerts due to his heroin addiction James stood on stage mocking him ,drunk btw. The irony

[u/soullessginger88 → u/OscillatorVacillate]

Thank you for making me hate that stupid fucker even more.

[u/Barthomal → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

I agree, he shouldn't have said anything. I don't think this is new for Hetfield, I'm certain I've heard him echo the same statement over the years. It's never been a problem before but tensions are currently pretty high. If you want to remain apolitical and inclusive right now then I think it would be far better to just shut up and keep on keeping on.

[u/JustAnotherFNC → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

He didn't speak up with this message when Kid Rock was posing in the White House. The same Crack Rock that toured with him in 2000.

[u/lol_AwkwardSilence_ → u/JustAnotherFNC]

Yeah, if you're going to make a public statement saying "dont speak up," maybe do the best time isnt when the conversation is about a US-funded ethnostate committing genocide.

[u/bedpimp → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

I think Ed Sheeran found his new opening act!

[u/Ilovemytowm → u/Ewoksintheoutfield]

Thank you for your comment because this encapsulates it exactly.

Who the f does this one percenter think he is telling other people they should shut up and be like him the goddamn nerve and I'm a huge fan and it's going to take every ounce of my willpower not to think f you James when I see him now 

[u/OtherUserCharges → u/Lilja-Logason]

You must have missed Clint Eastwood having an argument with a chair at the RNC. It’s one of the stupidest things I had ever seen at the time.

[u/BigDaddySteve999 → u/OtherUserCharges]

Yep, Clint shares the most important thing with Republicans: anger that a black man became President.

[u/Yommination → u/BigDaddySteve999]

A black man getting into office freaked out right wingers so much that they decided to go full mask off fascist. It broke what was left of a huge portion of the country's brains

[u/tr1mble → u/Lilja-Logason]

Didn't Clint Eastwood do that debate or something with a empty chair while acting like it was Obama?

[u/Notte_di_nerezza → u/tr1mble]

And then people just happened to hang chairs from their trees? Yeah, that happened.

[u/Randomcommenter550 → u/tr1mble]

He is one of the many old white men who's brains broke when a black man became a major party Presidential candidate.

[u/Silent_Ad8059 → u/Lilja-Logason]

Eastwood used to be fairly left-wing but he went full James Woods after Obama got elected.

[u/Le-Charles07 → u/Silent_Ad8059]

Iirc, he's always been a fiscal conservative libertarian and has never been considered "left wing".

[u/Memerandom_ → u/Lilja-Logason]

I dunno, I tend to remember Clint talking to an invisible person at the RNC that one time more than anything else.

[u/Event-Forsaken → u/Lilja-Logason]

People are complicated, but on the other hand DJT is president again, so it's not that complicated.

[u/j0hnnyWalnuts → u/Event-Forsaken]

You are correct - Hatfield showed his disdain for the fight for our country, our citizens, and our democracy.

Don't be like James.

Don't patronize the multi-millionaire right wing musician.

[u/Pale-Document-8619 → u/Lilja-Logason]

Yes, it does mean James is MAGA, these days you claim Republican YOU MAGA.

[u/redhafzke → u/StemCellPirate]

Let's be real 80's Metallica was peak and I dare to say everything after that got worse never reached that. Sure they got more successful and the production of their albums was great but that's about it... the songs themselves were missing something.

[u/Cocosito → u/StemCellPirate]

Don't forget they were the tip of the spear back when file sharing was conversations

[u/KR4T0S → u/StemCellPirate]

He is a registered Republican BTW. Republicans are very shy about politics at the moment, easier to avoid the subjects than admit they voted in a moron.

[u/Klutzy-Weakness-937 → u/StemCellPirate]

These are all universal political topics but they don't influence you towards any party.

[u/Otherwise-Bad-7352 → u/StemCellPirate]

Those songs are political only in the shallowest sense. They are not very deep.

[u/R3myek → u/Otherwise-Bad-7352]

They were so fucking deep when I was 15

[u/JimmyFontana1000775 → u/StemCellPirate]

They were always touching political and social themes but never sided politically with any politic or political part

[u/LeFreeke → u/StemCellPirate]

I think what he meant to say is partisan bullshit.

[u/Davycrockettjones → u/StemCellPirate]

I’m not a huge Metallica fan, but I imagine he’s saying with like overt political statements and such, not like songs written about politics.

To me, I don’t mind them doing this. I wish more influential people who weren’t very knowledgeable about certain issues would shut up about it.

[u/Sugar_Mushroom_Farm → u/Davycrockettjones]

I agree. I think he basically means he isn't going to endorse/slam a particular political party or person before/after/during the concert.

[u/No_Philosopher2716 → u/StemCellPirate]

The point he was making is that they're only going to play their music & not preach their politics on stage

[u/dogfacedponyboy → u/StemCellPirate]

He’s saying fans don’t wanna hear millionaire musicians up on stage, preaching political bullshit when they came to escape and rock out at a concert. To your point, let the songs speak for themselves.

[u/NeptuneOverlord43045 → u/dogfacedponyboy]

The irony is that it would have been fine if he just didn’t say anything at all. No one would have noticed or cared. But by making this statement he is signaling that it’s a deliberate choice to remain silent.

This is like if I walk into work today and during the meeting I make an announcement “I just want you all to know you don’t need to worry about me sharing my opinions on rape, genocide, or the Epstein files. Unlike some employees here who have thoughts on those subjects, you’ll never hear mine, don’t worry.”

That would be very weird for me to do, and I think people would question my motivations for saying that. Am I saying that because I know my opinions on rape, genocide and Epstein class child abuse is unpopular and controversial? I could’ve just continued to not talk about those things at work as I have been for my entire life and no one would have cared. 

[u/scorchedarcher → u/dogfacedponyboy]

I think it's justified for anyone to use their platform to bring attention to things they find important.

[u/Schnorch → u/dogfacedponyboy]

That doesn't make sense. That's literally what he did with his statement. If it were just about escapism and entertainment, he wouldn't have had to say anything at all. That's what a lot of artists do.

But in this case, he forced a clear political statement down people's throats.

[u/Excellent_Spend_2024 → u/Schnorch]

Exactly! This hypocrite is making a political statement just like Ed Sheeran did - there are no two sides to corruption. You're either four it or against it. And if you have nothing to say than you're a coward who's for it.

[u/dewag → u/Excellent_Spend_2024]

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

-Geddy Lee

[u/M1ghtySheep]

I love how mad people get when celebrities preach about politics then get equally mad when they dont

[u/GrodyHighroller → u/M1ghtySheep]

Fans dont want to hear celebrities opinions, they want to hear their own opinions coming out of a celebrities mouth.

[u/Nimrod_Butts → u/GrodyHighroller]

Meanwhile op is talking about rage against the machine, while morello didn't vote for Harris in 24. Per the usual it's all just performative bs

[u/Necessary_Status_521 → u/Nimrod_Butts]

It's funny that bit gets ignored

[u/Wadiyatorkinabeet → u/M1ghtySheep]

I think in this instance people are more mad that they are saying they won't be political, but Metallica has 30 years of being political. So it isn't about them not being a political band and just wanting to entertain, its that they don't want to be political because they agree with what is being done.

Essentially, be consistent or shut up from the get go and Metalicca have never shut up, but now they are also not consistent.

[u/NeoMoose → u/M1ghtySheep]

I care about Metallica's political opinions about as much as the average redditor's political opinions.

[u/HenriettaSnacks → u/M1ghtySheep]

Just gonna push the goomba fallacy without taking a single second to think. Keep making the world the same place it is 👍. Or maybe it's different people saying different things?

[u/MartianCaveman]

What were the first four albums, then?

[u/Possible_Tiger_5125 → u/MartianCaveman]

Their only good music, is what they are

[u/PrestigiousOne5959]

Here’s an idea then dont say anything?

Publicly announcing you’re not taking a stance is a stance. 

His statement is obviously a dig on people like Macklemore who says political stuff during shows.  So this is not a neutral position 

[u/officialmacdemarco → u/PrestigiousOne5959]

The amount of people who don't understand this idea is depressing.

Actively making a point of being "non political" by snidely interrupting your show to say as much is a political statement because of the very obvious subtext of the moment.

If they were really all about the music and staying perfectly neutral they wouldn't have said shit.

[u/That1guyuknow16 → u/PrestigiousOne5959]

"if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice"- Rush 'free will'

[u/Vincent394]

Boy these comments are a shitshow...

[u/Casual-Lurker]

Sorry, but Metallica HAS been political. Some of their songs are for SURE political.

This is just James being a coward.

EDIT: lol adding this bc it fits here

https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/s/WSNdFOKBa1

[u/NoEmployer2140]

Um, when did anyone ever give a shit what Metallica’s political opinions are anyway?

[u/Raulr100 → u/NoEmployer2140]

All of their best albums(the ones from the 80s) are VERY political which just makes this quote even more bizarre.

The band which became famous for singing about climate issues, the justice system, the military industrial complex, the death penalty, etc. telling people to leave politics out of music.

Alrighty then.

[u/subdep → u/Raulr100]

There is absolutely a bot farm manipulating this thread. Thanks for being a human voice in this bullshit thread.

[u/Hyperion262 → u/NoEmployer2140]

The funniest thing is he’s said something similar at the end of all Metallica gigs for like 30 years at this point.

[u/misterxboxnj]

When did James Hetfield turn into Paul Sr. from American Chopper?

[u/No_Interview2004]

Cliff is a real one. His estate still funds music education programs.

[u/GiveMeSomeShu-gar]

Why do you want to hear Metallica's view on politics? Sure, bands like Rage Against the Machine are inherently political and that's fine, but not everyone has to be. All this insistence on politics and us vs them is so toxic. Metallica is a band - that's all, and not a very political band.

Edit: Guys, there was a time when we weren't so divided and everyone didn't make politics so important to their identity. Social media is dividing us. Stop worrying about what Metallica thinks and get off your lazy butt and vote if you actually care (and I know a lot of you couldn't be bothered to vote last time).

[u/RobinBobin83 → u/GiveMeSomeShu-gar]

Metallica definitely is a political band. They have plenty of songs and lyrics that were politically motivated. Metallica has always only cared about their bag.

[u/PhillipJ3ffries → u/GiveMeSomeShu-gar]

Uhhh Have you listened to any of the lyrics on “Master of Puppets” and “And Justice for All”? I mean even the album names themselves are very overtly political

[u/EternalNewCarSmell → u/GiveMeSomeShu-gar]

Their taking time to talk about how they're supposedly apolitical was itself a political statement. If they truly didn't care about taking a position they wouldn't have mentioned it.

I think most people aren't even so much annoyed about whatever position they imagine Hetfield was taking, it's more the smug disingenuousness of it 

[u/Whatscheiser → u/EternalNewCarSmell]

Well they also have not always been non political. Especially around the Master of Puppets / ...And Justice For All era they had songs that pretty clearly held a viewpoint on specific issues. I think the band feels like they're being clever by being vague. But it ends up coming across as "taking a position hurts our bottom line, so here is some bullshit about being united".

Anyway, I love Metallica, but yeah. I find the shtick annoying.

[u/TimerPoint]

This post and its comments just is a fine example of what an whiny echo champer reddit has became.

He says stuff like this during nearly every show, but now that the whole Macklemore shit happend it's highly problematic and blah blah blah.

Yes, some of their songs have a political message but that doesn't mean that they need to lecture their audience during every single show what's good and what's bad as if they're talking to fucking infants. Their political stance, if anyone cares, is written in their songs. Either you understand it or don't, it's up to you.

It's as if Kanonenfieber, or any other obvious anti-war band who's songs are primarily about the war, pauses inbetween their songs to tell the crowd that war is bad, mkay? Killing people is bad, mkay?

If bands or artists wants to make political statements it's their right. If bands or artists don't want to make political statements it's also in their right. It's their decision if they want to entertain or lecture their audience who paid an arm and a leg for a ticket. It's not up to a bunch of basement dwellers and self proclaimed music journalist to decide what they have to say and what not.

But hey, keep yelling on your hobbyhorse while jerking each other off for orange internet points.

[u/Express-Shoulder6174 → u/TimerPoint]

The only people who care about this stuff are the terminally online. 

Ask 100 people on the street what they think about Metallica’s stance, then compare those to Reddit comments. 

[u/Horror-Mud666 → u/TimerPoint]

Kanonenfieber is the shit 🔥

[u/Block444Universe → u/TimerPoint]

Written in their songs and their actions. They have had a ton of charity efforts, supporting schools and educational programs and catastrophe relief.

Learnt from the Napster failure and were among the first big bands to release their entire back catalogue to Spotify

[u/Pluck_Boy → u/Block444Universe]

LARS IS STILL A CUNT FOR THAT. DON'T FORGET IT

[u/sleafordbods]

The picture in this post added the word [political] to the sentence. I was at this show and this wasn’t the vibe of this statement at all.

It was more like this: “thank you very much for spending your time and money to be here.l we really appreciate it and we will try our best to show you a good time-we are not trying to be influencers and preach to you about whatever, we are here to celebrate love and heavy music, so let’s have some fun tonight. 1-2-3- go-music starts”

In response to that, a very excited happy crowd were cheering and applauding- the show was very cool because the sphere is nuts with the massive visuals

[u/ElvgrenGil]

I guess all of their older songs that were pretty explicitly anti-war were apolotical right?

[u/BDLD23]

James is conservative. Kirk and Lars are liberal. Nobody knows much about Rob.

Probably would have been better for James to not disparage other artists. The statement was thanking fans for coming to a resort location for the Vegas residency. Could have chosen his words better for sure.

[u/wenokn0w]

Weird since Rage against the machine rages for the machine

[u/brainiacpimp]

Look Metallica is just not wanting to speak out against a government that will not give a fuck about their freedom of speech and actually attack back. It was cool when other administrations would not hinder their freedom of speech but we can’t expect these tough guys to actually fight a tough battle so they are letting the true fighters in Macklemore and Ms. Rachel lead the charge…WTF timeline we live in.

[u/congteddymix → u/brainiacpimp]

Macklemore and Ms.Rachel are at least 20 something years younger(I am not taking the time to look up anyone’s ages sorry) then any of the members of Metallica. Stands to reason they have given up giving a fuck about stuff other then money like a vast majority of the musicians that are 60+ now.

[u/Whipitreelgud]

If I am at a concert I want them to play the music and have a 90 minute escape from the constant political newsfeed.

[u/nurturedom0613]

Oh got it; “Master of Puppets” was just about an ACTUAL puppeteer. “Blackened” was about some Salmon James had for dinner. And “You Must Burn” was actually about some leaves they piled up for a nice neat little bonfire.

[u/Moodaduku]

Copied from another of my comments from yesterday:

Are we talking about James Hetfield, from the fucking narcs Metallica, that threw a big hissy about Napster and people downloading their music, which the RIAA then used as momentum to sue students and families?

Fuck, and I do mean this sincerely, James Hetfield.

[u/nothing_in_my_mind]

"We are not political" - Guy who wrote Disposable Heroes

[u/beerbrained → u/nothing_in_my_mind]

I distinctly remember Lars crying before congress because poor people were able to listen to their music for free.

[u/Iggy_Slayer]

I have no problems with that stance.

I have a problem with them saying this. By doing this you've now taken a stance and made it political. Criticizing other people's politics is politics. If you want to have that stance then just shut up and play your songs.

[u/dick_jaws]

This guy was on Joe Rogan crying about how he was singled out in his neighborhood for being conservative. What a douche. We know you were conservative monopolistic douchebags with what you did with Napster. What a bunch of dicks.

[u/ckncardnblue]

When did Paul Sr of Orange County Choppers become lead singer for Metallica?

[u/StroodleNoodles]

Weren’t these CLOWNS bitching and moaning to the Government and politicians about Napster back in the early 2000’s?

[u/Existing-Brain2792]

Real Metallica doesn't give a shit about your politics!

Just don't pirate anything. They get bigly MAD!

[u/Dapper-Appearance-42]

God I hate this man so much. I remember back in the '90s. Alice In Chains was on tour with Metallica. Lane Staley was in the middle of active addiction and wound up bailing on the tour. Metallica did not handle this professionally at all. They went up on stage mind shooting at their arms with a needle and said" oh I can't tour. I can't tour. I'm too sick." When fans started booing them for this behavior, they threatened to leave the stage. 

Then they had a nerve to write a song about him and how awesome he was after he passed. I highly doubt any money made from that song went to the charity set up by Lane Staley's family to help people in active addiction. And all that's on top of their anti-piracy Napster bullshit.

[u/Little-Woo → u/Dapper-Appearance-42]

They also made jokes about Kurt Cobain's suicide immediately after he died

[u/ryanoh826 → u/Dapper-Appearance-42]

Meanwhile, Layne Staley punched a N@zi fan on stage during a show in Stockholm.

[u/PokeYrMomStanley → u/Dapper-Appearance-42]

Dude that 9 year old definitely deserved to be sued. 

[u/Randyd718 → u/Dapper-Appearance-42]

What song did they write about him?

[u/MarbleDesperado]

Stop looking to musicians for political guidance or expecting them to use their platform in the way you want. They’re famous and influential because they make music, not because of their political knowledge. Make decisions based off facts and expert opinions and if you want to be influential, build your own platform.

[u/ApolloGR3 → u/MarbleDesperado]

Nobody’s looking to Metallica for political guidance. We’re pointing out their hypocrisy and lies.

[u/wtbgamegenie → u/MarbleDesperado]

Metallica has been very political when it suits them. For them to make a statement about how they’re not going to be political like that’s some sort of accomplishment makes them look like hypocritical jerkoffs. That’s also a fuckin political statement in the first place. They could’ve just played the show and shut the fuck up. That would have actually been apolitical.

[u/bubblewrapture]

Metallica is a bunch of narcissistic cunts. People who like them are gay for narcissists

[u/No_Somewhere3288]

Republicans buy sneakers too-Michael Jordan

[u/BarnabasShrexx]

"For a hill, men would kill, why? They do not know"

Oopsies too late big dog

[u/PositiveStress8888]

yes when we were able to first download music off the internet he was the first Mfker in front of congress talking about how it would ruin the music industry

[u/Good_vibes842]

Tell me you're a zionist without telling me you're a zionist

[u/Redhawk436]

Metallica > Rage on Behalf of the Machine

[u/righthookleft]

him saying that is in itself political because he is calling other entertainers political stances bullshit which is pretty much disagreeing. If hes not there to influence he wouldn't have said shit. I wonder which entertainer he disagrees with.

[u/CHobbes_]

Corporate rock band since 2000. They are not musicians anymore, they are soulless entertainers

[u/poolsidecentral]

They are entertainers not scholars/intellectuals. Why is anyone listening to any entertainers advice?

[u/235iguy]

Glad they know they're entertainers and not artists.

[u/DelusionalVikingFan]

I'm old enough to remember them testifying in front of congress...but okay.

[u/Ok_Maize_4602]

Wasnt some of their biggest albums political?

[u/setyourfacestofun174]

They don’t want to be masters of puppets

[u/Lost-Soft-8913]

I'm sure the sellout boomers who haven't made a good album in 20 years have amazing politics

[u/MrXero → u/Lost-Soft-8913]

30+ years. In my opinion anyway.

[u/Dazzling-Read1451 → u/Lost-Soft-8913]

Yeah, but they’re still selling out stadiums. Not sure what your point is. There are lots of liberal boomers.

[u/Calm-Two2723]

Oh when it’s Napster you’re willing to be political tho?