Roger Waters hits back at “complete prick” James Hetfield after Metallica frontman’s statement on music and

Roger Waters has hit back at James Hetfield following his recent on-stage comments about music and politics, calling the Metallica frontman a “complete prick” who has “an IQ of about three”.

1. READ MORE: Metallica live in Amsterdam: still the greatest heavy metal band around.
2. Chrissi – ‘I Hate You Don’t Leave Me !’ review: a layered look at love, loss and self-doubt.
3. Madra Salach live in London: an unmissable live band with incredible power.
4. Bathing Suits are bringing deranged noise-punk to the dancefloor.
5. Para Troye Sivan, a pista de dança é um espaço de cura.

Todos os olhos devem estar em Mia Tharia, estrela em ascensão de 'Klara And The Sun.

Os comentários referem-se às recentes declarações do ícone do thrash metal durante sua apresentação como parte da residência da Metallica no Las Vegas Sphere. No palco, em 10 de outubro, ele agradeceu à plateia por terem potencialmente viajado de longe para assistir ao show, e os tranquilizou de que seu objetivo era criar uma sensação de fuga das questões do mundo – não ensiná-los com suas próprias “bullshit” agendas.

Although he didn’t mention any names, some fans have suggested that it could be a nod to Macklemore, who was dropped as a support act for Ed Sheeran’s ‘Loop’ tour after making a speech calling for a “free Palestine”.

Others have speculated that it could also have been a jab towards Hayley Williams – who has been saying ‘Fuck ICE’ at her recent shows – or even at fellow metal artist Tom Morello, who recently enlisted Jack Black, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen and more for his politically-charged Power To The People festival.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield took a swipe at artists who use their concerts to lecture audiences about politics during the band's Las Vegas residency.

In what could easily be seen as a dig at the likes of Macklemore, Hetfield told the crowd.

Unless you live in Vegas,… pic.twitter.com/ImZyOgFeuJ.

Agora, o ex‑estrelado do Pink Floyd Roger Waters compartilhou suas opiniões sobre os comentários feitos por Hetfield, chamando‑o de “prick”.

O apresentador destacou para Waters que, embora a Metallica tenha mantido uma postura largamente apolítica ao longo dos anos, Hetfield já se manifestou anteriormente sobre relatos de que a música da Metallica teria sido usada para torturar prisioneiros no Iraque.

He told The Guardian in 2003: “We’ve been punishing our parents, our wives, our loved ones with this music for ever. Why should the Iraqis be any different?”.

Waters replied: “He may have a few hundred million dollars or whatever, but he’s a prick, and he’s no musician. I heard them playing acoustic instruments, and they couldn’t.

Roger Waters has been a longtime supporter of Palestine. In 2024, he urged followers on social media not to vote for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the US election due to their respective stances on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

More recently, last July, he voiced his support for Palestine Action after the organisation was proscribed as a terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Ele também reagiu a outros músicos por suas diversas posições sobre Israel. Ele disse ao Thom Yorke e Jonny Greenwood, do Radiohead, que “there is no argument to be made”, e continuou dizendo: “It is not a conflict.”.

More recently, he also called Ed Sheeran a “little prick” for allowing Macklemore to be kicked off his ‘Loop Tour’, following the rapper making an impassioned speech on-stage, calling for “all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality” and for a “free Palestine”.

Metallica have been reluctant to share their political stance for years now, and back in 2017 Hetfield said that he wanted to keep his thoughts about Donald Trump to himself, arguing that politics “separates” people.

In 2020, Metallica also spoke about how they wanted their music to inspire unity at a time when tensions are high due to various social conflicts, and last year the band forced the US government to withdraw a social media video that made use of ‘Enter Sandman’ without authorisation.

Os shows de residência do Metallica em Las Vegas acontecem em meio a alguns anos movimentados de turnê, com eles estando frequentemente nas estradas para o gigantesco tour 'M72', celebrando o lançamento de seu mais recente álbum '72 Seasons.

A voz que define o mundo em música e cultura pop: desvendando o que há de novo e o que está por vir desde 1952.

When you purchase through affiliate links on NME.com, you may contribute to our site through commissions. Learn More.

NME Networks, a part of Caldecott Music Group. All rights reserved.