Metallica closed out the Australian leg of their M72 World Tour with a tribute to two of the country’s most influential rock acts, performing covers of AC/DC and Rose Tattoo during their Nov. 15 concert at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
The gesture came during the band’s signature “doodle” segment — the stripped-back interlude led by guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo — which has become a staple of the current tour.
The pair launched into an instrumental version of AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” before shifting into Rose Tattoo’s “Nice Boys Don’t Play Rock ’n’ Roll,” drawing loud approval from the sold-out crowd. The moment carried added resonance as AC/DC were performing their own Power Up tour the same night in Melbourne, creating a rare split-city convergence of two generations of rock royalty.
The Sydney show capped a five-city Australian run in which Metallica incorporated local tributes at every stop. In Perth on Nov. 1, Hammett and Trujillo performed John Butler Trio’s “Zebra.” Adelaide received a rendition of The Angels’ “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” while Melbourne fans heard a nod to The Living End’s “Prisoner of Society” with hints of INXS’ “Don’t Change.” Brisbane’s Nov. 12 show featured The Chats’ punk anthem “Smoko,” a moment that sent the audience into full-throttle chaos.
Metallica performed to roughly 70,000 fans in Sydney, supported by Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies. Their 360-degree stage design once again featured the Snake Pit walkway, robotic cameras and drones — a production approach that has defined the visual identity of the M72 tour and pushed the stadium experience into new territory.
The timing of the show aligned with a major period for Australian rock audiences. Oasis had wrapped their Australian stadium run one week earlier, and AC/DC’s return created back-to-back landmark moments for fans across the country.
Next, Metallica will continue the M72 World Tour in Auckland on Nov. 19 before heading to Qatar.
