METALLICA’s long-awaited return to Australia didn’t go as smoothly as many had hoped. What was meant to be a night of pure heavy metal energy at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday turned sour for some fans, who have since taken to social media to voice their frustration over what they described as “disgusting behaviour” in the crowd.
A Reddit thread that began shortly after the concert has since blown up with dozens of concertgoers sharing disturbing stories about drug use in the pit. One particularly furious fan sparked the discussion by writing, “Whoever was smoking shard (methamphetamine) in the pit at METALLICA seriously get a life.”
From there, the thread became a sounding board for attendees to vent about what they witnessed during the band’s first Australian tour in more than a decade. One concertgoer claimed, “I smelt weed, dmt and meth… I couldn’t believe it tbh (to be honest)…”
Another fan condemned those showing little regard for others around them, posting, “People smoking weed or meth around children and other people at a concert where you can’t really avoid it, are inconsiderate f…ing a…holes.”
The post, which has continued to attract attention days after the show, also featured accounts of open drug use. One person shared, “We had a woman crouch down before METALLICA in GA1 and light a pipe and it was like a beacon for all the derros to shuffle over and ask for a blow.”
Others used the incident to highlight what they say is a growing issue in Western Australia. “The meth problem in Perth is out of control and to do that at a crowded concert puts all the people around them at risk. That’s disgusting behaviour,” another Reddit user commented.
Despite the uproar online, venue officials said there were no formal reports of drug use during the event. A spokesperson for VenuesLive, the operator of Optus Stadium, said: “Optus Stadium works closely with our security provider and WA Police to ensure a safe environment for our staff and patrons attending events. We take reports of any drug use or anti-social behaviour seriously and respond accordingly.”
WA Police were already kept busy that night, as two men from the South West were charged after climbing the central tower inside the stadium mid-show. A 20-year-old from Carey Park and a 23-year-old from Australind were arrested at the scene and now face trespassing charges.
In another incident, a 19-year-old was stopped outside the venue when police discovered a small fold-up knife during a “proactive edged weapons scanning.” According to a police spokeswoman, “The item was seized and destroyed.”
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.