Metallica paid tribute to rock icons AC/DC and Australian pub-rockers Rose Tattoo during the final show of the first leg of their M72 World Tour on November 16, 2024, at Foro Sol in mexico City. the band honored both acts with extended instrumental jams incorporating signature riffs from each group’s catalogs.
The acknowledgements underscore Metallica’s long-standing respect for their musical predecessors, and highlight the influence of both AC/DC and Rose tattoo on the progress of heavy metal. The M72 tour, supporting the album 72 Seasons, is scheduled to continue into 2025, with the band playing two nights in each city, offering fans a unique setlist experience each night.
During the November 16th performance, Metallica launched into a segment featuring elements of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” seamlessly woven into their own material. Later in the set, they honored Rose Tattoo with a rendition incorporating the band’s classic track, “Bad Boy for Love.”
“We’ve been listening to AC/DC since we were kids,” Metallica frontman James Hetfield stated to the crowd, according to fan-captured footage circulating online. “They’re the reason we picked up our instruments.” hetfield also acknowledged Rose Tattoo as a foundational influence, praising their raw energy and rebellious spirit.
Metallica’s M72 tour is notable for its innovative “snake pit” stage design, placing the band in the center of the audience, and its commitment to playing two completely different setlists across consecutive nights in each city. The tour began April 27, 2024, in Amsterdam and is scheduled to conclude September 28, 2025, in San Francisco.
