Watch Metallica Cover “Smoke On the Water” In Recent Show

The unexpected turn of events at Nissan Stadium during Metallica’s M72 World Tour was caused by a mechanical problem with drummer Lars Ulrich’s drum equipment. James Hetfield and Rob Trujillo joined guitarist Kirk Hammett in playing the famous riff from Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” and Rob Trujillo sang a few lines, turning the brief pause into an unplanned jam session.

The band showed how versatile they were and entertained the crowd despite technical issues. Of course, the audience responded with excitement and cheered for the legendary band. In a lighthearted comment, Hetfield said it was their method of “killing time” while the drums were being fixed.

Watch Metallica’s quick jam in the video below:

The Show Goes On

The concert continued with rocking energy, featuring a setlist that included classics like “Creeping Death,” “Harvester of Sorrow,” and “Master of Puppets,” as well as newer tracks from their latest album, 72 Seasons. The Nashville show was part of Metallica’s “No Repeat Weekend,” offering fans two nights of entirely different setlists.

M72 World Tour Highlights

Metallica’s M72 World Tour has been full of wild moments and cool surprises. It kicked off in Syracuse with a packed house—over 47,500 fans showed up, breaking the attendance record at the JMA Wireless Dome. At a Virginia Tech show, things got so intense during “Enter Sandman” that the crowd’s jumping actually caused a small earthquake, now famously called the “Metallica Quake.”

One of the best parts of the tour? Their “No Repeat Weekend” setup. If you go to both nights, you get two completely different setlists—with classic hits, deep cuts, and new songs from 72 Seasons. And while they’re rocking out on stage, they’re also doing good behind the scenes. A portion of ticket sales goes to Metallica’s All Within My Hands foundation, helping local charities in each city they visit.