Metallica’s Perth Gig: 2 Fans Face Charges for Scaling Stage Tower

Two concertgoers were arrested after allegedly climbing a large central tower during Metallica’s concert in Perth, Australia, on Saturday night (November 1). The show, held at Optus Stadium, marked the opening night of the band’s long-awaited Australian tour.

Videos and photos circulated across social media showed the men scaling the massive tower positioned near the center of the stadium. The structure supported lighting rigs and massive speaker stacks, forming part of Metallica’s elaborate M72 World Tour stage setup.

Police Arrest and Charges

According to The West Australian, police quickly detained the two climbers — a 20-year-old from Bunbury and a 23-year-old from Australind — shortly after the incident. Both were charged with trespassing and are expected to appear in court at a later date.

The men’s climb did not appear to disrupt the performance, and Metallica continued their set uninterrupted.

A Setlist Spanning Metallica’s Career

The Perth concert featured a career-spanning performance from the heavy metal icons, with songs representing nine of their eleven studio albums. Although the M72 tour was designed to promote the band’s 2023 release, 72 Seasons, only one track from that album — Lux Æterna — was performed.

Given that this was Metallica’s first Australian appearance in more than 12 years, the decision to play a broader mix of material seemed aimed at rewarding long-waiting fans.

A Triumphant Return After Turbulent Years

Metallica last planned to tour Australia and New Zealand in 2019 but cancelled those dates when frontman James Hetfield entered rehab. Reflecting on that time, drummer Lars Ulrich explained in a 2023 episode of the band’s official podcast, So What!, that the group decided to pause everything to support Hetfield.

“What James went through at the tail end of ’19 into ’20 was something where it really felt like I — and the rest of the guys in the band — had to give him the space that he needed,” Ulrich said. “We needed to do that for our friend and for our bandmate and partner.”

He added that as the band began to regroup in early 2020, “everything got side-swiped by the horrific events of Covid and the lockdown.”

Upcoming Tour Dates

Following their run of Australian shows, Metallica will head to New Zealand for a concert on November 19, before wrapping up their 2025 tour with performances in Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The band will return to Europe and the UK next summer as part of the continuing M72 World Tour.