Metallica delivered a surprise moment of musical rebellion during their Sunday night concert at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo treated the local crowd to a live cover of Tom Jones‘ iconic anthem “Delilah“—a track that has been officially banned from the venue for several years.
The performance occurred during the traditional “doodle” section of Metallica‘s long-running “M72” world tour. During this segment of the show, Trujillo and Hammett routinely pay homage to the musical history of their host city by covering a track from a local artist. However, their tribute to Welsh legend Tom Jones carried an unexpected political edge given the stadium’s strict regulations.
The Principality Stadium officially banned “Delilah” from its PA systems and choir playlists in 2023. While the 1968 classic had long been a beloved staple among fans during Welsh national rugby matches, its dark lyrical content, which details a jealous husband tracking down and murdering his unfaithful wife, led to a permanent restriction. Explaining the decision at the time, the Welsh Rugby Union explicitly stated: “The WRU condemns domestic violence of any kind.”
The controversial censorship did not sit well with Tom Jones himself, who previously spoke out against the stadium’s administrative restrictions by stating:
“You can’t stop us singing ‘Delilah.’ Can you imagine… Who was the man who didn’t want us to sing ‘Delilah’?”
Disregarding the venue’s corporate policy, Trujillo and Hammett tore into the familiar arrangement anyway, prompting the entire stadium crowd to loudly sing along to the hometown anthem.
The high-voltage stunt comes as Metallica prepares to wrap up the United Kingdom leg of their current tour. The band is scheduled to launch a massive 24-date “Life Burns Faster” residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, which will run from October 1, 2026, through March 13, 2027.
Metallica officially launched the “M72” world tour in Amsterdam in April 2023 to support their eleventh studio album, 72 Seasons. Since then, the heavy metal titans have performed for an estimated four million fans worldwide.
Meanwhile, the 86-year-old Tom Jones is currently completing his own summer tour across the UK and Europe before crossing the Atlantic for a full North American concert run this fall.
Metallica Upcoming 2026 U.K. Tour Dates:
- July 03 – London, England – London Stadium
- July 05 – London, England – London Stadium
