Metallica’s frontman has revealed an unsuccessful tour approach to Turnstile, without letting the declined invitation diminish his enthusiasm for the band.
A Turnstile and Metallica tour pairing was discussed but did not come together, according to James Hetfield. Speaking on his SiriusXM program James Hetfield’s Riff Life, the singer said Metallica had wanted to bring the Baltimore group on the road.
“We wanted to get them on tour, and they said no,” Hetfield said in remarks reported by Louder. He followed that disclosure by acknowledging that Turnstile are already succeeding on their own, rather than presenting the decision as a slight.
Hetfield’s praise centered on the experience of seeing them perform. He encouraged listeners to catch a concert and described an energy that becomes clearer in person, while also saying the musicians had spent some time together away from the stage.
His interest is not new: Hetfield and Judas Priest singer Rob Halford were filmed watching Turnstile at Norway’s Tons of Rock festival in 2024. The invitation therefore fits an established admiration for the group, rather than an isolated remark about a prospective opening act.
Turnstile’s own live profile has continued to expand. Guitar World notes that their October 24 benefit concert outside the Washington Monument drew an estimated 60,000 people and raised $280,000 for humanitarian relief in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon, following last year’s Never Enough album.
Hetfield’s account establishes that an approach was made, but it does not supply Turnstile’s explanation for declining. No reason should be inferred from the decision: the reported comments describe an unrealized booking, alongside a clear endorsement from one of metal’s most prominent frontmen.
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