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Metallica kicked off their long-awaited return to Australia with a thunderous show at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 1, 2025, launching the local leg of their M72 World Tour. It was the band’s first trip Down Under since headlining the 2013 Soundwave Festival, and fans came ready for chaos, energy, and plenty of heavy riffs.
But not everyone made it to the encore. Two fans, a 20-year-old from Carey Park and a 23-year-old from Australind, were arrested during the concert after pulling off a dangerous stunt inside the stadium. According to WA Police, the pair allegedly climbed the central tower inside the bowl during Metallica’s set, an area off-limits to the public.
Photos from the show captured officers escorting the shirtless duo from the crowd while 60,000 fans kept their eyes on the stage. Both men were arrested at the scene and later charged with trespass offences. Police confirmed the incident took place inside the stadium during the height of Metallica’s set, saying:
“It will be alleged the men climbed up the central tower inside the bowl at the Metallica concert held at Optus Stadium on Saturday,” a WA Police spokeswoman told NewsWire.
The arrests made headlines across Australia, adding a wild twist to what was otherwise a historic night for the world’s biggest metal band.
Perth Marks Metallica’s Triumphant Return to Australia
The Perth gig was Metallica’s first Australian show in 13 years, following the cancellation of their 2019 tour with Slipknot. This time, they returned with support from Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies, featuring Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica’s own Robert Trujillo, on bass.
From the first note of Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold”, fans knew they were in for something massive. The band tore through a 16-song set packed with heavy classics, fan favourites, and hits from their latest album 72 Seasons.
Perth was the first stop of Metallica’s five-city run through Australia and New Zealand, followed by Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, before wrapping up in Auckland on November 19. Each show promises the same in-the-round stage setup, colossal pyrotechnics, and the raw power that defines Metallica’s live legacy.
For more on what’s coming next, check out Metallica’s M72 World Tour Set to Shake Australia This November.
Utopia Records - Australia’s Home of Metal since 1983.
