Metallica: Perth approaches fever pitch as heavy metal rockers countdown to Optus Stadium show on Saturday

Metallica madness is set to hit an “eardrum-rattling” fever pitch in Perth, with one of the globe’s biggest heavy metal bands to kick-start the Australian leg of their epic M72 World Tour at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Lead singer James Hetfield was spotted incognito and relaxed aboard a Rottnest Express ferry on Thursday afternoon, alongside his girlfriend Adriana Gillett, as the countdown to the metal group’s epic national tour launch continues to tick.

It’s the first time the American band — dubbed the biggest of the “Big Four” thrash bands — has been Down Under in more than a decade.

Comprising founders Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, along with Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, the four-piece group will be supported by nostalgic rockers Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies.

As fans speculate over Metallica’s setlist, PerthNow can share photographs of the infamous Snake Pit — a thrilling mosh pit built into the staging area.

While tight-lipped on the stage’s “top secret” final form, Optus Stadium chief executive Mike McKenna suggested die-hard fans with Snake Pit tickets would get their money’s worth — with limited packages selling from $998 to $3998.

“It’s not a big area. But for those fans lucky enough to be in the Snake Pit, it’s a really intimate 360 experience. So they’ll have a great time,” he told PerthNow on Thursday.

Metallica super-fan Dean Pearce has already been to 13 M72 concerts across Europe, and will follow the band as they continue their tour around Australia.

“The Perth show this Saturday will be 14, and then Adelaide and Melbourne will make 16, and then next year I’m off to London, which will be 17,” he said.

“It’s a full time job.”

Mr Pearce said he had been a Metallica fan his entire life, and is the proud owner of one of the world’s biggest Metallica memorabilia collections.

“When I was a child my brother was into Metallica, so I used to sneak into his room and play his Metallica records, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” he said.

“I actually have a Metallica room inside my house, which is full of merch that I’ve been collecting since the 1980s right up until now.”

Metallica has also joined forces with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which will see all donors gifted with a limited edition t-shirt designed by the band’s artist, SQUINDO.

Mega-fan Shane Gibson — who donated blood for the first time on Thursday — has been a Metallica fan for the past 35 years, and says it is “pretty much part of every day life”.

“I got my first Metallica cassette single in 1991 when the black album came out, then when Sandman came out I watched (the music video) every Saturday religiously on (TV show) rage, and then I got the CAS single for that,” he said.

He said he had passed his love for the band to his six-year-old son, and said the pair were looking forward to Saturday night’s epic extravaganza.

“It’s his first concert experience — I never took him to the Wiggles, I just couldn’t do it, so we’re staying at the casino and he’s super excited,” he said.

Tragically, Mr Gibson lost his wife to breast cancer last year, and said he was donating his own blood to give back.

And whilst his wife wasn’t a Metallica fan, Mr Gibson said “she liked how much I liked them”.

Lifeblood chief executive Steven Cornelissen said donations had increased by about 50 per cent since the collaboration launched, with many being first-time donors.

“We need blood and plasma every day and we never have enough, so to have these fans come in and to have new donors join us is fantastic,” he said.

“I hope that them seeing the blood in the bag is as good as hearing Whiskey in the Jar.”

With all Aussie eyes to be on Perth on Saturday for the national tour launch, Mr McKenna promised it would be a night local metal fans would never forget, and a far cry from the group’s Burswood Dome performance of 2010.

“This would be a bit different experience than that, because you do have the outside atmosphere to help you. But I think if you’re a fan of heavy metal, this will be something that you’ll experience and remember forever,” the Optus Stadium chief executive said.

However, it won’t just be attendees head-banging.

Expecting a soundcheck to be conducted prior to the show, Mr McKenna suggested the familiar echo of Enter Sandman or Fade to Black might ring out in the neighbouring suburbs well before the headliners take the stage.

“Everything I’ve been told is, it’s going to be eardrum-rattling territory,” he revealed, adding “people who live in this area will hear” any soundchecks prior.

Fans will also be treated to mouth-watering Metallica-themed food, including “nothing else batters” fish tortillas, “leek and destroy” loaded fries and “fight fire with fire” burgers.

Organisers are hoping for close to 60,000 tickets to be snapped up prior to showtime, however, several seating options had yet to be exhausted on Thursday afternoon.

Saturday night will be the first concert showcase at the stadium since March 2024, when American pop singer Pink dazzled crowds as part of her Summer Carnival tour.

The show will launch a sizzling summer of live entertainment at Optus Stadium, including AC/DC on December 4 and 8, and Ed Sheeran on January 31 and February 1.

However, for cricket lovers, the more pertinent question being asked is how will Optus Stadium plan for the flood of metal fans stomping across the turf with less than three weeks until day one of the first Ashes test?

Mr McKenna said “lots of planning” goes into protecting the sacrosanct wicket, assuring fans “nothing to do with the concert” would jeopardise it.

“We cover it just as the concert’s about the staff people start coming in, and we take the covering off it straight afterwards,” he revealed.

“And the curators therefore get access to it all the time, so they’ll have plenty of time to prepare it while everything goes on around the wicket. And the outfield will be a good nick as well.”