Metallica’s Lars Ulrich says U2’s Sphere debut fired him up
The drummer said U2’s opening night in Las Vegas made the venue feel like “another frontier” as Metallica prepares its own Sphere run.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
Lars Ulrich caught U2 on the very first night of the Sphere in Las Vegas, and the Metallica drummer says the show rewired his idea of what a rock concert can do.
Speaking with U2 guitarist the Edge on the SiriusXM program “Close To The Edge,” Ulrich said he was at the venue for U2’s opening performance and left charged up by the scale of the place and the production around it.
“I was there opening night and was so just fucking awestruck, inspired, energized,” Ulrich told the Edge, according to SiriusXM. He added that the performance made him think, “Holy shit, this is somehow another frontier.”
The conversation comes as Metallica prepares to take its own swing at the Sphere this fall. Rolling Stone reported that the band’s “Life Burns Faster” residency, named for a lyric from “Master of Puppets,” has grown from an initial eight shows to 24 nights after strong fan demand.
The run is scheduled to unfold in weekly two-show blocks from October 2026 through March 2027, according to Rolling Stone.
Ulrich says the Sphere is a serious test
Ulrich told the Edge that U2’s role as the first band inside the Sphere made an impression on him. He said seeing the venue on that first night helped shape how Metallica is approaching its own residency three years later.
“Obviously, you guys were the first ones in,” Ulrich said on the SiriusXM show, adding that Metallica has been hearing from people about “the filming and all of it” as the band prepares for the residency.
The drummer did not dress up the challenge. In a SiriusXM video tied to the interview, Ulrich called the task “challenging,” “overwhelming” and “fucking intimidating.”
He said the band hopes to have the show in shape by opening night, while also admitting that the Sphere pushes Metallica out of its usual comfort zone. Ulrich said Metallica often works in settings it can control and understands, and that being thrown into something less familiar can be good for the band.
The Sphere has become a residency magnet
The Las Vegas venue has quickly become a major stop for arena-scale acts. Rolling Stone noted that the Sphere is built around wraparound 16K screens and an advanced sound system, tools that have made the building a draw for musicians looking to build shows around more than a standard stage setup.
U2 opened the venue with its residency. Since then, Rolling Stone reported, Phish, Dead & Company, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band and the Backstreet Boys have all played Sphere residencies.
The Eagles currently have several dates scheduled at the venue, according to Rolling Stone. Metallica now joins that list with a long run of its own, and Ulrich has made clear that U2’s first night is still rattling around in his head as the band gets ready.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.