On the August 14 episode of SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson was asked whether he and the band would consider a residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, the 17,600-seat venue that has redefined live entertainment since its September 2023 debut.
“No. It’s not MAIDEN,” Bruce responded. “MAIDEN‘s about the relationship between the band and the audience, and the show, whilst it’s a show, is an enhancement to what we do. The Sphere, as far as I can gather — I mean, I appreciate what you’re saying about it’s all encompassing, it’s this and that, it’s the other — but I think the band would be very uncomfortable with the idea. I mean, we just do a lot of stuff — we run around, we go around — and at the Sphere, what’s the point? What’s the point? In fact, what’s the point of even being there, if you’re a band?”
Earlier this month, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich revealed during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show that the band is “considering” a Sphere residency in the fall of 2026, following the conclusion of their “M72” world tour, which wraps up with another European leg next July.
Ulrich remained coy but intrigued when asked about the possibility: “I’m not going to confirm anything, because there’s nothing to confirm. But I’m not going to deny it, because we’re all such fans of this venue [The Sphere]. It’s something that we’re considering, nothing is etched in stone or green-lit. It’s something that we’re looking at at some point when the 2026 tour is done.”
Back in April, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett addressed the idea of playing the Sphere in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, saying: “Oh, heck, yeah! That’s a great example of how venues are changing. That’s using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to A.I. and making it a crazy experience.”
If the rumors are true, METALLICA would join the ranks of U2, who inaugurated the Sphere with their high-profile residency, and PHISH, who followed with their own immersive performances. Given METALLICA’s history of pushing the boundaries of live shows, a Sphere residency could offer fans a truly next-level metal experience.
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