Watch Metallica Cover John Butler Trio in Perth + Full Setlist

Metallica kicked off the Australian leg of their M72 World Tour in Perth last night (Nov 1), and by all accounts, it was a monster. 

Fans packed Optus Stadium for the band’s first Aussie show in over a decade, a night filled with heavy hitters, flawless production, and one very unexpected local twist.

A Local Twist: Kirk & Rob Go Full John Butler

Midway through the set, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo broke into their trademark “doodle” segment, a short jam unique to each city. Perth got a surprise for the ages: after warming up with Budgie’s ‘Crash Course in Brain Surgery’, the duo launched into John Butler Trio’s ‘Zebra’, sending the stadium into chaos.

Even John Butler himself was caught off guard. Waking up in London to messages and videos of the performance, he posted:

“Metallica are performing in Boorloo/Perth tonight… I’ve just woken up in London to several texts/vids of them performing ‘Zebra’ wtaf!?? This is a spin out!! RESPECT 🙌🤘♥️”

It’s not often Metallica pull from Australia’s roots scene, but the moment bridged worlds, with a global metal act paying homage to one of WA’s most iconic songwriters.

The Show: Heavy, Polished, and Loud as Hell

From the opening ‘Creeping Death’, Metallica sounded ferocious. Fans described the set as tight, explosive, and classic Metallica, complete with pyrotechnics, 360° stage design, and Hetfield’s unmistakable growl.

“The energy was unreal,” one concert-goer wrote. “You could feel the floor shake during ‘Sad But True’.”

The slower moments hit just as hard, with ‘Nothing Else Matters’ lighting up the stadium in a sea of phone lights before the band tore straight into ‘Seek & Destroy’.

Full Perth Setlist

1. Creeping Death
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls
3. Holier Than Thou
4. Fuel
5. The Unforgiven
6. Wherever I May Roam
7. Kirk & Rob Doodle (Budgie’s ‘Crash Course in Brain Surgery’ + John Butler Trio’s ‘Zebra’)
8. The Day That Never Comes
9. Moth Into Flame
10. Sad but True
11. Nothing Else Matters
12. Seek & Destroy
13. Lux Æterna
14. Master of Puppets
15. One
16. Enter Sandman

Perth got the full Metallica experience: stadium-sized, razor-tight, and full of surprises. The Zebra cover instantly became the night’s most-talked-about moment, proving once again that no matter where they play, Metallica know how to make it personal.

If this first show is anything to go by, Australia’s in for one hell of a tour.

🗓️ Metallica M72 World Tour – Australia & New Zealand 2025

The M72 World Tour has officially landed down under, marking Metallica’s first visit to Australia and New Zealand in more than a decade. The run will hit six massive stadiums this November, with Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies joining as special guests.

• Nov 1 – Perth, WA
  Optus Stadium
  👉 Tickets & info
• Nov 5 – Adelaide, SA
  Adelaide Oval
  👉 Tickets & info
• Nov 8 – Melbourne, VIC
  Marvel Stadium
  👉 Tickets & info
• Nov 12 – Brisbane, QLD
  Suncorp Stadium
  👉 Tickets & info
• Nov 15 – Sydney, NSW
  Accor Stadium
  👉 Tickets & info
• Nov 19 – Auckland, NZ
  Eden Park
  👉 Tickets & info

🎸 No second shows or additional cities have been announced.