Even legends have tour nightmares. While Metallica are known as one of the most relentless touring bands in metal history, there’s one touring pairing they’d rather forget — their co‑headlining run with Guns N’ Roses in the early 1990s.
At the time, Metallica were breaking out beyond the underground, just becoming one of the biggest acts in the world. Riding the success of …And Justice for All and moving into stadium territory, drummer Lars Ulrich saw a co‑headlining run with Guns N’ Roses as a brilliant idea — two massive rock forces joining forces.
But in practice, it turned out to be a logistical and personal disaster. As frontman James Hetfield later told Rolling Stone, Axl Rose’s unpredictable behaviour — showing up late, delaying or cutting short performances, and refusing to take the stage consistently — made the tour a nightmare to coordinate. In Hetfield’s words, “They’re a different type of band — and I use the word band loosely.”
Things deteriorated so badly that one show in Toronto ended in a full‑blown riot; fans were angry after Metallica’s own set was overshadowed by chaos, and Guns N’ Roses cut their appearance short entirely.
The tension was more than temporary annoyance — it became a learning moment for Metallica on what not to do on the road. Seeing a fellow headliner disrespect the audience’s time and commitment left a mark on the band, and Hetfield has since admitted it’s “not something we’d want to do again.”
Despite the immense power both bands had on record, the tour highlighted a simple fact: great music doesn’t always translate to great touring chemistry — especially when reliability and professionalism are in short supply.
