Why Turnstile Turned Down an Offer to Open for Metallica
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has revealed that Turnstile turned down an invitation to open for the metal legends on tour.
Speaking on his SiriusXM show Riff Life, Hetfield explained that he and his bandmates are fans of the Baltimore group and wanted them on the bill. “We wanted to get them on tour, and they said no,” Hetfield said. “They’re doing good on their own already.”
High Praise and Live Admiration
Despite the rejection, Hetfield made it clear there is no bad blood and that his admiration for the band remains intact. He praised their energy and urged fans to catch them on stage, noting that seeing them live makes everything click.
“What a vibe they bring. They are so fun. Go see them play if you can,” Hetfield shared. “Just like many, many bands, they sound great on their records and recordings, but man, when you see them live, you totally get it. We’ve hung out with them a bit. Super cool guys, super fun. They’ve got a gal in the band now playing, which is fun.”
Hetfield’s praise follows his appearance at Norway’s Tons of Rock festival in 2024, where he and Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford were filmed watching Turnstile’s set.
Touring Plans Ahead
While Turnstile opted out of joining Metallica, both bands have stayed active. Turnstile’s most recent album, Never Enough, reached No. 9 on the US Billboard charts, and the band recently tapped death metal veterans Obituary to open for a US show. Meanwhile, Metallica has been performing a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere and is set to resume their M72 tour in 2027 with opening acts Limp Bizkit and Avatar.
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