Metallica ends three-year M72 tour, announces Sphere residency
Metallica's conclusion of its three-year M72 world tour and upcoming Las Vegas Sphere residency highlight the shifting scale and economics of legacy rock touring.
Metallica has concluded its three-year M72 world tour following a final European leg this summer, bringing a close to one of the largest sustained touring operations in recent rock history.
The band now plans to shift formats, taking up a residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas this October. This will make Metallica the first metal act to headline the immersive multimedia venue, a space that has previously hosted long-term engagements by U2 and the Eagles.
The conclusion of the stadium run underscores the increasing duration of modern live music tours. The M72 trek relied on a rotating cast of support acts to sustain its multi-year schedule. During the European leg, the band was supported by Gojira, Knocked Loose, Pantera and Avatar. Avatar responded to the tour's end by stating the shows were "something we will always be grateful for."
For supporting acts, securing a position on such a run represents a significant commercial opportunity. Evanescence joined the tour for six stadium shows in Australia and New Zealand in November 2025. Singer Amy Lee described the headliners as "so gracious," noting they accommodated her band's production needs by allowing a grand piano to be placed directly in the audience pit.
“It’s their show and [you give] full-on respect: OK, it’s Metallica, we’ll back off," Lee said. "But also, can we have some good production? What exactly can we get away with?”
Other openers experienced similar integration into the tour's machinery. Mammoth WVH frontman Wolfgang Van Halen, who played the 2023 and 2024 dates, noted he received a ‘Perfect Attendance Award’ from the band, adding that "opening for Metallica was unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of."
Beyond live performances, the broader business of legacy rock continues to rely on back-catalogue revenue. Evanescence recently released a new album, Sanctuary, last month. This arrived alongside the news that their 2003 breakout single Bring Me To Life has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America.
