During a 2020s Canadian concert, Metallica faced an unexpected disruption when darts were thrown at the stage. Bassist Jason Newsted recounted the event to Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, describing how the band halted their performance after projectiles struck near guitarist James Hetfield’s location.
The incident occurred during a less-than-full venue setup with a central curtain dividing the audience. Newsted noted fans’ proximity to the stage created a heightened risk. Multiple darts were thrown, prompting the music halt. Security intervened after identifying a culprit via laser pointer surveillance, leading to their removal by law enforcement.
Newsted contextualized the event within early career dynamics: ‘We weren’t always filling arenas.’ The first interruption occurred when a dart hit Hetfield’s shoe, causing immediate concern. The band’s subsequent self-policing—with fans and security collaborating—highlighted their communal concert culture.
Newsted has since joined Chophouse Band for Blackberry Smoke’s 25th-anniversary tour. In conversations with podcast host Charlie Starr, he discussed uniting with Southern rock artist Starr, along with retrieving Rich Robinson’s eyewitness account of the ‘Die! Die!’ chant that inspired Metallica’s ‘Creeping Death’ lyrics.
