Howard Stern rocked out to Metallica
The Hamptons aren’t exactly known for sweaty mosh pits or epic metal guitar solos. But Thursday night, the one percenter East End hideaway was rocking when Metallica stormed Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett for an intimate, invite-only gig celebrating SiriusXM’s brand-new Maximum Metallica channel.
And right in the thick of it? Howard Stern, who rolled in with his younger wife Beth, amidst rumors he’s leaving SiriusXM for a new home. The King of All Media has always worn his love of hard rock proudly, but seeing him side-by-side with Beth in such a tiny venue while James Hetfield and company roared through “Master of Puppets” felt like one of those “pinch me” rock ’n’ roll moments. Stern looked every bit the fanboy — head nodding with a smile, soaking it all in — proving that even the biggest voices in radio can still be like one of us.
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell were also spotted in the crowd, along with Andy Cohen, Colin Jost, Michael J. Fox, and Sylvester Stallone. It was the ultimate culture clash: Wall Street millionaires rubbing elbows with diehard headbangers, all united by Metallica’s wall of sound.
The setlist pulled no punches. Metallica leaned heavy on the classics — “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” — but the energy made it feel like we were back in the Bay Area clubs of the early ’80s. Hetfield grinned as he told the crammed-in crowd, “It’s hot and sweaty, we’re getting close and personal — this is fun!” His bandmates matched the vibe: Kirk Hammett’s solos shredded, Lars Ulrich cracked jokes from behind the kit, and Robert Trujillo stalked the stage with basslines that shook the tiny club’s walls.
Howard Stern watched Metallica’s Ozzy Osbourne tribute
But the night’s most emotional turn came when the band broke into the riff from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” a loose, loving tribute to the fallen Prince of Darkness, Variety reports.
For Stern, who’s interviewed everyone from Ozzy to McCartney across his storied career, it had to be surreal to stand feet away from Metallica paying respect to a fellow legend. Beth looked on smiling, the couple clearly moved by the weight of the moment.
Metallica have played stadiums and festivals that dwarf small towns, but nights like this remind you why they’ll forever be the people’s band. No massive stage rigs, no pyrotechnics — just four musicians locked in, and finding a way to keep it raw with a celebrity filled audience.
