Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted has given his enthusiastic blessing to his ex-bandmates' upcoming Las Vegas Sphere residency, calling it "an incredible opportunity" during a May 12 appearance on SiriusXM. "I'm very happy for them," Newsted said, pointing to the band's legendary track record delivering massive production values on the M72 world tour.
Newsted — who played bass in METALLICA from 1986 to 2001 — was particularly sharp about the advantages of a residency over a traditional touring cycle. Rather than constantly breaking down and reassembling a show between cities, a residency allows the band to evolve their performance from night to night. "They can establish, learn, and adapt progressively," he explained. Each show builds on the last, something that's nearly impossible when you're loading gear into a new arena every few days.
METALLICA's "Life Burns Faster" shows at the Sphere will run from October 2026 through March 2027, expanded from an initial eight concerts to a full 24-show engagement. The "No Repeat Weekend" format — with different setlists for Thursday and Saturday performances — continues the tradition the band locked in during the M72 tour.
The Sphere's specifications are staggering: 17,600 capacity, 16K resolution wraparound LED displays, and an audio system engineered to immerse audiences like nothing else. For a band that has spent decades raising the bar on concert production, it's a natural fit.
Newsted also mentioned he'd love to attend personally — both METALLICA and The Eagles are on his Sphere wish list.