Behind The Scenes Of Metallica’s 2025 ‘M72’ Show At Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium (Video)

Metallica‘s ongoing “M72” world tour is a colossal undertaking, and tour coordinator Jon-Michael Marino recently offered a glimpse into the intricate logistics required to bring the band’s massive stadium shows to life. Speaking to WDBJ, a CBS-affiliated station in Roanoke, Virginia, Marino provided behind-the-scenes details following Metallica‘s May 7, 2025, concert at Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium, which also caused a small earthquake. You can watch the clip down below.

The sheer scale of the operation is staggering. According to Marino, Metallica‘s touring crew consists of 350 members, and this figure doesn’t even include local personnel such as ticket takers, concession crews, or security. The tour’s signature circular stage is an engineering marvel, comprising eight towers equipped with a total of 588 speakers, connected by miles of fiber optic cable, and supported by 192 audio inputs and 72 cameras strategically placed around the stadium.

The arsenal of instruments required for each performance is equally impressive. Marino revealed that there are four drum kits positioned on the stage, with an additional two backup kits transported in the tour trucks. A staggering 64 guitars and basses travel with the band, with 36 of them needing to be show-ready at all times – translating to 12 per string-playing band member. To keep the music flowing, approximately 6,000 guitar picks are used or given out at each concert, while around 25 drumsticks meet a similar fate per show.

Explaining the necessity for such a large number of guitars, Marino had previously stated: “Across, let’s call it 15-16 songs, there’s various tuning. There’s also things that happen naturally like strings breaking, guitars going out of tune that have to be swapped in the moment.”

The 2025 North American leg of the “M72” tour is produced by Live Nation and presented by new sponsor inKind. Beyond the spectacle, the tour also carries a significant philanthropic component. A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold goes to local charities through Metallica‘s All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017, the foundation aims to give back to communities that have supported the band over their long career. To date, All Within My Hands has impressively raised over $15 million, contributing $8.2 million in grants to career and technical education programs (including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, now in its sixth year), over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, and more than $3.5 million towards disaster relief efforts.

Bringing a Metallica stadium experience to fans involves an immense, well-orchestrated effort, blending cutting-edge technology with a deep commitment to both musical excellence and community support.