Rumor: Metallica Residency at Sphere Looks Like a Lock

By Scott Roeben, on July 25 2025
3 min read 33 comments
Las Vegas

Our sources say Metallica is ready to ink a deal for a Sphere residency.

For our fellow youths: Metallica is a heavy metal band of some note. Or possibly a thrash metal band of some note. Thrash metal wasn’t so much a thing until Metallica.

We’re hearing Metallica could play Sphere in the fall of 2026, but specifics haven’t been confirmed or announced yet. For fans, even a rumor of a Metallica residency at Sphere is akin to having an electric eel shoved down one’s pants, but in a good way.

Metallica’s first live show was in March 1982 at Radio City in Anaheim, California. They were paid with a case of beer. Their asking price has gone up a smidge.

Here’s an overview of Metallica, which we definitely wrote off the top of our head, in no way relying on A.I. to assist despite the fact we personally couldn’t name a “Metallica” song or album if our life depended upon it: Metallica is one of the most influential heavy metal bands in music history, formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield. Widely credited with popularizing thrash metal, the band is known for its aggressive sound, complex guitar work and blistering live performances.

We are very, very good at obviously deeply knowledgeable about a genre of music where the only song we like is “Thunderstruck,” which we’re fairly sure is not a Metallica song.

Let’s learn some more about Metallica off the top of our head, shan’t we?

Their early albums, including “Kill ‘Em All,” “Ride the Lightning” and the legendary “Master of Puppets,” helped define the genre, while 1991’s self-titled “Metallica” (commonly known as “The Black Album”) brought them massive commercial success with hits like “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters.” Over the decades, Metallica has evolved stylistically, weathered internal struggles, and navigated controversy–from the death of bassist Cliff Burton to their polarizing lawsuit against Napster. Despite these challenges, they’ve sold over 125 million albums worldwide, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, and continue to perform for sold-out crowds around the globe, most recently on their ambitious “M72 World Tour.”

Forget em dashes, we would never use the word “over” in the phrase “over 125 million albums” when “more than” is grammatically correct. Thanks a lot for the tell, A.I.

Our sources have been spot on with other Sphere news, and we even broke the story “Wizard of Oz” would get a reboot there.

Metallica would join an eclectic list of acts booked at Sphere, including U2, Dead & Company, Phish, Anyma, The Eagles, Kenny Chesney, Backstreet Boys and Zac Brown Band.

The thing they all have in common is the visuals at Sphere have taken these performers to another level, creating unforgettable live performances that generate buzz for the bands and the venue, as well as for Las Vegas as a destination.

Please note we are not going to talk about the financial viability of Sphere. That horse has been beaten ad nauseam, and the horse isn’t happy about it, at all.

Metallica’s European leg of the “M72 World Tour” is scheduled for late spring and early summer of 2026, with dates spanning from May 9 to July 5, 2026, which means any dates after that are fair game.

Band members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are both 61, Kirk Hammett is 62, Robert Trujillo is 60.

You’ll know more when we do. Stay girded, friends, and just to be on the safe side, invest in some custom earplugs.

Update (8/6/25): Lars Ulrich talks about the Metallica residency at Sphere with Howard Stern. A non-confirmation confirmation, as the kids say.