Metallica frontman James Hetfield recently took a moment in Melbourne’s iconic AC/DC Lane to pay tribute to two legends, Bon Scott and Cliff Burton, who helped shape heavy music.
James Hetfield pays tribute to Cliff Burton and Bon Scott
Hetfield stopped by a brand-new mural of the late bassist Cliff Burton, painted by local artists Maid (Liquid Pastels) and Ling. The piece, set against a lightning backdrop, captures Burton in his element, still a defining presence in the band’s early fire.
Hetfield shared the visit on Metallica’s official Instagram, captioning it, “Visiting an old friend in Melbourne. Fantastic mural.”
The photo shows him next to the artists as they added the final touches.
He then went down the lane, and threw the horns at the bronze bust of Bon Scott, paying respects to another pillar of Australian rock. The image spread quickly, with fans calling it “legends recognising legends.”
In other news about Metallica, the band gave Wolfgang Van Halen a ‘Perfect Attendance Award’ for supporting them on every leg of their M72 tour from 2023 to 2024.
Wolfgang recently made the revelation in an interview with Metal Hammer, as he reflected on what it was like playing stadiums with the biggest heavy metal band in the world.
“Opening for Metallica was unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of,” the Mammoth singer/multi-instrumentalist says.
“It was really, really crazy.”
He then added that the shows were nerve-wracking because the stages were ‘in the round’, situated in the middle of the venue as opposed to at the back.
“There’s nowhere to hide,” he explains. “As a singer, when you’re kind of planted, it’s tough to give the show to the whole crowd.”
However, the tour was still “fun”, especially due to how accommodating Metallica were.
“We were the one band to play every single building with them,” Wolfgang remembers, “and they gave us this plaque that said, ‘Perfect Attendance Award.’ It was very sweet.”
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