During their massive concert on May 22 at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, Metallica surprised the hometown crowd with a highly localized musical tribute. Stepping to the front of the stage, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo delivered a specialized cover of “Schwarz-Weiß Wie Schnee” (translated as “Black And White As Snow“). The track is widely recognized as the official anthem of the German football club Eintracht Frankfurt, specifically honoring the popular thrash metal version recorded by local legends Tankard.
The unique performance is part of a recurring live feature on the band’s current tours. At each stop, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo utilize a dedicated segment in the setlist—affectionately referred to by the band as “doodles”—to perform stripped-down, bass-and-guitar interpretations of songs by their musical heroes or local icons, often selecting tracks that fall far outside of the group’s traditional heavy metal sound.
Earlier this month, the duo utilized this same segment to honor Greek culture when the band launched the 2026 European leg of their “M72” world tour. Performing for a sold-out crowd of 85,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on May 9, the pair delivered an instrumental rendition of “Zorba’s Dance“. Originally composed by the late Mikis Theodorakis, the piece gained international fame through the 1964 film “Zorba The Greek“. They immediately followed it up with a cover of “Den Horas Pouthena” (translated as “You Don’t Fit Anywhere“), originally by the legendary Greek rock band Tripes.
Since launching the global touring cycle in Amsterdam in April 2023 to support their eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons, Metallica has performed for an estimated four million fans worldwide.
In keeping with their established philanthropic efforts, a portion of all ticket sales from the ongoing stadium run will be donated to local charities through the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. Established in 2017, the organization has raised more than $20 million to date, directly supporting initiatives related to vocational and technical education, food insecurity relief, and disaster response.
The band will continue their European stadium run throughout May and June before eventually returning to North America later this year for a highly anticipated residency in Las Vegas.
Metallica‘s Remaining 2026 European Tour Dates:
- May 24 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park (Support: Pantera & Avatar)
- May 27 – Zürich, Switzerland – Stadion Letzigrund (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- May 30 – Berlin, Germany – Olympiastadion (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- June 03 – Bologna, Italy – Stadio Renato Dall’Ara (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- June 11 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskas Arena (Support: Pantera & Avatar)
- June 13 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskas Arena (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- June 19 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium (Support: Pantera & Avatar)
- June 21 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- June 25 – Glasgow, Scotland – Hampden Park (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- June 28 – Cardiff, Wales – Principality Stadium (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- July 03 – London, England – London Stadium (Support: Gojira & Knocked Loose)
- July 05 – London, England – London Stadium (Support: Pantera & Avatar)
