Despite starting in 2023, Metallica’s M72 World Tour has yet to find a conclusion. The long-serving band will visit Greece, Romania, Poland, Germany, Hungary, and several places in the UK in support of their now-three-year-old album, 72 Seasons. They’ll take a brief hiatus after a July 5 concert in London before embarking on an extended residency at the Sphere, Las Vegas.
This 24-date run (plus two events in Connecticut) will take Metallica through to March 2027, an exhausting run for a band approaching their 45th year on the circuit.
The Sphere
Las Vegas has a unique position in music, serving as both a regular tour stop and a place where artists temporarily ‘retire’, playing regular shows at one of the hotels or casinos on the Strip. Sheffield band Def Leppard was in residence at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace for 12 dates in February of this year – their third such stay in the city.
These special concerts are usually reserved for pop artists, like Celine Dion, who has practically lived at Caesars Palace since 2003, Billy Joel, U2, and Britney Spears. However, a handful of heavier acts have graced Las Vegas’s stages. Motley Crue played their third residency in 2025 at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Planet Hollywood Resort will give German veterans Scorpions a residency in 2026 – another third effort.
The newly built The Sphere is a bit of an upstart in the space, already attracting one of the artists mentioned previously, U2. This year, prog band Phish and country-rock outfit Eagles will appear at the Sands Ave arena, along with No Doubt and Backstreet Boys.
With a “historic run”, to quote Billboard, at The Sphere in 2024 by electronic musician Anyma, Las Vegas as a whole seems to be acquiring eclectic tastes.
Life Burns Faster
It’s no surprise that Las Vegas can attract such a long list of famous names (the first ever residency – Liberace – took place in 1955), given its association with high-end casinos. Today, Sin City has a global footprint at online operators, courtesy of the Live from Las Vegas series of games. Featuring a human dealer on webcam, these casino games are broadcast from the Bellagio and MGM Grand, two icons of the Strip.
Metallica’s stay will bear the moniker Life Burns Faster, a line from their 1986 song Master of Puppets. The band’s official website notes that demand for tickets has been overwhelming. Consequently, the residency has been extended at least three times, twice by six shows and then by four.
The Sphere has quickly become one of Las Vegas’ most famous (some might say obnoxious) sights. Capable of seating 17,600 people, the venue is best known for its namesake, the glowing sphere that wears all sorts of imagery, including an animated emoji face.
Metallica promises a “no repeats” weekend during its residency. Tickets went on sale in March for the opening concert on October 1. Unsurprisingly, they weren’t cheap, ranging from $700 to $5,500.
