Culture 3 min read By Lauren Baxter
Turnstile turned down a tour with Metallica, James Hetfield says
Metallica frontman James Hetfield says his band invited Turnstile to tour with them, but the Baltimore hardcore group declined, a rejection that comes during a strong run of success for the band.
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has revealed that his band invited Baltimore hardcore group Turnstile to join them on tour, but the band turned the offer down. Speaking on a recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show Riff Life, Hetfield said: «We wanted to get them on tour, and they said no. They’re doing good on their own already.»
Despite the rejection, Hetfield praised Turnstile’s live performances. «But man, what a vibe they bring. They are so fun. Go see them play if you can,» he continued. He added that, like many bands, Turnstile sound great on record, but seeing them live is what makes the appeal clear. He also noted that the two groups have spent time together, calling the members «super cool guys» and pointing to the presence of a guitarist in the current lineup, a reference to British guitarist Meg Mills, who joined Turnstile’s touring line-up in 2023.
Hetfield’s admiration for the band is not new. In 2024, he was seen watching Turnstile perform at Norway’s Tons Of Rock festival alongside Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford. The rejected invitation comes during a remarkable stretch for Turnstile, who released their fourth studio album, «Never Enough», in June 2025. NME gave the record five stars, praising its «bright, eccentric» sound and the band’s willingness to push the boundaries of hardcore. Earlier this year the group followed it with «Never Enough: Versions», a reimagining of the album featuring contributions from Elton John, Hayley Williams, Blood Orange, A.G. Cook and others.
The band have also gained major mainstream recognition, winning Best Rock Album for «Never Enough» and Best Metal Performance for «Birds» at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Last weekend, Turnstile played a free concert on Washington D.C.’s National Mall in front of the Washington Monument, drawing an estimated 60,000 fans. The show marked the conclusion of their North American tour and raised more than $220,000 (£165,000) for humanitarian efforts in Palestine, Sudan and Lebanon.
Metallica, meanwhile, continue their large-scale «M72» world tour, which began in 2023 in support of their album «72 Seasons». Earlier this year they brought Knocked Loose on the road for their UK and European stadium shows, including dates in Dublin, Glasgow, Cardiff and London. The band are currently performing a «Life Burns Faster» residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas and have announced further North American stadium dates for 2027, with Limp Bizkit and Avatar joining them, beginning in Vancouver on May 8 and continuing across the US and Canada through June.
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