In August 1992, Metallica were fresh off the success of The Black Album, the album that catapulted them into commercial prominence. The band was in the middle of a North American tour, co-headlining with another hard rock powerhouse of the time, Guns N’ Roses. The tour was an event, drawing huge crowds, including a full house of 55,000 at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. The crowd was eager for a night to remember, but they had no idea of the dramatic turn of events that was about to take place.
Pyrotechnics
The band’s staff had briefed them earlier in the day on the evening’s pyrotechnics. They decided to increase the amount of half-pound aluminum powder explosives and place them in front of and outside the stage. The plan was to add more visual impact to the show. However, after they sang 12 songs, lead singer James Hetfield found himself engulfed by a 12-foot-tall torch.
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During a performance of “Fade to Black,” Hetfield was unsure of his position on the stage as giant flames erupted around him. He moved hesitantly, and then disaster struck. “I was kind of confused about where I was supposed to be,” he later recalled in an interview with VH-1’s Behind The Music. “And then the guy with the fireworks didn’t see me, and, ‘Whoosh!’ This huge ball of colorful fire went up from under me. I was burned. My arms, my hands, all the way to the bone. The side of my face. My hair was gone. Part of my back. I was watching the skin bulge out, and everything was wrong.”
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Drummer Lars Ulrich watched in horror as Hetfield was “completely engulfed” in flames at 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of a rocket launch. Fortunately, Hetfield was wearing a double-necked guitar, which deflected some of the flames from the left side of his body. Still, he suffered severe burns to his arms and hands, and his eyebrow was singed. He fell to the ground and rolled around on the stage to put out the flames while the rest of the band stood there in shock.
Bassist Jason Newsted later told People magazine, “If he was still breathing, he would have been dead.” Zach Harmon, the band’s bass technician, recalled, “I ran over and saw him holding his arm, and the skin was almost gone.” The concert was abruptly interrupted, and Ulrich had to explain the situation to the confused audience. Hetfield was rushed backstage to await transport to the hospital.
Hospital treatment
In the chaos backstage, someone accidentally touched Hetfield’s burned hand, causing him great pain. “I remember losing my mind,” he recalled. “I screamed and punched him in the gut!” It was several hours later that the full extent of Hetfield’s injuries was fully understood. He was taken to the hospital in a van, where doctors found deep second-degree burns on the back of his left hand and second- and third-degree burns on his arms.
Medical staff cut away the remnants of his clothing, sawed off a ring on his left hand and injected him with morphine to ease the pain. “It was pretty much the worst pain I’ve ever experienced,” Hetfield said. Blisters formed on his hands and layers of dead skin had to be removed.
Guns N’ Roses performance
Back at the stadium, Guns N’ Roses refused to take the stage early to make up for Metallica’s shortened set. When they finally took the stage, two hours after Metallica’s abrupt end, they played just nine songs before Axl Rose stormed out, citing problems with the sound system. He told the crowd, “If anyone’s interested, this will be our last show for a long time.”
Audience riot
Feeling cheated by the night’s events, the audience erupted in a riot. They overturned concession stands, set trash cans on fire, and rampaged through the city streets. Cars were set on fire, a police car was overturned, and even a streetlight was uprooted. Damage was estimated at $400,000, ten people were injured, and at least six were arrested. Meanwhile, the rest of Metallica was kept backstage for their own safety, unable to visit Hetfield in the hospital.
Hetfield’s Rehabilitation
Hetfield was released from the hospital the next day, but the recovery that followed was long and painful. He began daily 90-minute sessions to clean and bandage his wounds, and began an exercise program to restore movement in his nerve-damaged arm and hand. Despite the severity of his injuries, just 17 days later Hetfield was back on stage in Phoenix, singing lead vocals with John Marshall on guitar.
The band’s resilience
James Hetfield’s fire accident in Montreal was a traumatic event that demonstrated the dangers musicians can face on stage. However, his quick recovery and return to tour are a testament to his tenacity and dedication to his career. Undeterred by the accident, Metallica continued their tour, with Hetfield’s determination serving as a testament to the band’s indomitable spirit. The Montreal incident remains a significant moment in Metallica’s history, highlighting the risks and relentless drive of one of rock’s most iconic bands.
Lasting Impact
The events of Montreal are etched in the memories of fans and band members alike. Not only did it test the band’s resilience, it also strengthened their commitment to their music and their fans. Despite the physical and emotional toll they took, Metallica’s spirit of forging ahead has inspired many. Their story continues to be a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of live performances and the unwavering dedication it takes to become a part of rock history.
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