James Hetfield Visits Cliff Burton Mural and Bon Scott Tribute Ahead of Metallica’s Melbourne Show

Before stepping on stage at Marvel Stadium tonight, James Hetfield took a quiet moment in Melbourne’s iconic AC/DC Lane to pay tribute to two legends who helped shape heavy music.

The Metallica frontman stopped by a brand-new mural of the late bassist Cliff Burton, painted by local artists Maid (Liquid Pastels) and Ling. The piece, set against a lightning backdrop, captures Burton in his element, still a defining presence in the band’s early fire.

Hetfield shared the visit on Metallica’s official Instagram, captioning it, “Visiting an old friend in Melbourne. Fantastic mural.” The photo shows him next to the artists as they added the final touches.

A few steps further down the lane, Hetfield threw the horns at the bronze bust of Bon Scott, paying respects to another pillar of Australian rock. The image spread quickly, with fans calling it “legends recognising legends.”

The band are in town for the M72 World Tour at Marvel Stadium. If you’re heading in, here’s everything you need for tonight’s show in our pre-show guide: Metallica Melbourne 2025 set times, support acts and transport info. Melbourne follows two big stops on the Australian run: Perth and Adelaide. Perth delivered a wild opener that included a surprise local nod in the doodle segment, which you can relive here: John Butler Trio cover in Perth and the full setlist and the full gallery here: Metallica Perth 2025 photos. That night also made headlines after two punters were arrested for climbing a tower mid-set.

Adelaide kept the local flavour going and gave fans a different look at the set. See the night in pictures and the complete list of songs here: Metallica Australian Tour 2025: Adelaide photos and setlist.

Cliff Burton played on Metallica’s first three albums — Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets — before his death in a 1986 bus crash while the band were touring in Sweden. His influence still runs through the band’s music, and Hetfield’s lane-way visit shows how deeply they continue to honour him nearly 40 years on.

With a huge crowd expected at Marvel Stadium, Melbourne feels ready for its own chapter in the tour. Whether they pull another local nod or stick to the classics, Hetfield’s AC/DC Lane visit is already a highlight of the week.

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