metallica
Ross HalfinMetallica announced a pair of summer stadium shows — their only for 2022 — set to take place this August.
The first of the two gigs will be held Aug. 11 at, Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, New York, while three days later, Aug. 14, Metallica will headline PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Metallica last played Highmark and PNC Park 30 years ago, hitting the two venues back-to-back on July 25 and 26, 1992). Both gigs will feature support from Greta Van Fleet and Ice Nine Kills.
Tickets for the two gigs will go on sale March 4 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. A presale for members of Metallica’s Legacy Fan Club will launch Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. ET, while those in the band’s General Fan Club will have access to tickets that same day starting at 11 a.m. ET. All presales will end March 3 at 10 p.m. ET.
While the Buffalo and Pittsburgh shows are Metallica’s only summer stadium gigs, they’re definitely not the band’s only live shows this year. The group will play Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas this Friday, Feb. 25, and in May they’ll play the BottleRock festival in Napa, California, and Boston Calling in Boston. They also have shows in South America and Europe lined up throughout the spring and summer.
In other Metallica news, it was just announced that the band’s rare first recording — featuring Dave Mustaine — will be reissued on vinyl for the first time in 40 years. Guitarist Kirk Hammett is also prepping his first solo release, Portals, an all-instrumental EP that will arrive April 23 for Record Store Day.
Zara Larsson has indicated that she may have cancelled her December 3 appearance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The singer initially confirmed that she would not attend, before removing the comment and sharing a more detailed explanation of why the performance no longer feels right for her.
The Swedish star was scheduled to take the stage at Etihad Live on Yas Island during the Yasalam After-Race Concerts. Zara and Lewis Capaldi were due to launch the weekend’s entertainment. However, supporters encouraged her to reconsider the booking because of concerns surrounding the United Arab Emirates’ reported connections to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organisation accused of committing atrocities during the nation’s civil conflict.
A fan commented: “Please read about what UAE is doing to Sudan then cancel your Abu Dhabi show!” Zara responded: “I will not be going to Abu Dhabi.” Fans later realised that both comments had been removed.
She then shared that she had been considering what it means for her, as an artist, to perform in particular countries.
The Midnight Sun singer explained: “I think about that a lot in my life as an artist… I wanna perform and spread joy and music for people in every country, because no single person is their government.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart. I love people, and I love my fans soooo much.”
Zara acknowledged that her original comment “maybe came off as an impulsive response,” but explained that she had given the booking serious thought. She now believes withdrawing is the decision that “aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.”
She continued: “Maybe I’ll delete both comments and do a better statement soon. I hope to sing with you in the beautiful future!”
