Metallica’s 1992 concert in Montreal turned chaotic when frontman Hetfield was severely burned by pyrotechnics during the performance.
Hetfield suffered deep second-degree burns on the back of his left hand and second-and third-degree burns on his arms, describing the pain as the worst he had ever felt.
Guns N’ Roses refused to adjust their set time to accommodate Metallica’s shortened performance, leading to further tension and chaos at the concert.
The concert ended in a riot with $400,000 in damages, injuries, and arrests, leaving Metallica members stranded backstage for their safety.
He was back onstage in Phoenix, albeit on vocals only, 17 days after the accident, when Metallica resumed its tour with stand-in John Marshall on guitar.
He said, “When I went back for the first time and those flames went up, my heart raced. It’s like when you’re a kid; if something scares you, you go do it anyway. I learnt from it. It’s the Metallica way.”
