Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has revealed that the band approached Turnstile about joining them on tour, only for the Baltimore hardcore group to decline the invitation.
Hetfield shared the story during a recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show Riff Life, where he spoke enthusiastically about Turnstile‘s live performances and their growing success.
According to the singer and guitarist, Metallica had hoped to bring the band out on the road, but the invitation did not result in a tour together.
We have seen them live, we wanted to get them on tour, and they said no. They’re doing good on their own already. But man, what a vibe they bring. They are so fun. Go see them play if you can. Just like many, many bands, they sound great on their records and recordings, but man, when you see them live, you totally get it. We’ve hung out with them a bit. Super cool guys, super fun. They’ve got a gal in the band now playing, which is fun.
The admiration is not entirely new. Hetfield was previously spotted watching Turnstile perform from the side of the stage at a festival in Norway in 2024, alongside Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford.
Turnstile have enjoyed a remarkable rise in popularity in recent years, bringing their combination of hardcore punk, alternative rock and melodic experimentation to increasingly large audiences.
Their momentum was particularly evident during a recent performance at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which reportedly drew around 60,000 people.
The band’s success has attracted attention well beyond the traditional hardcore scene, making them one of the most prominent acts to emerge from the genre in recent years.
Metallica, meanwhile, have continued to support artists from different corners of heavy music on their ongoing M72 tour. Knocked Loose joined them for European dates earlier in 2026, demonstrating the band’s willingness to introduce its stadium audiences to younger heavy acts.
Hetfield did not reveal when Metallica approached Turnstile or whether the proposed tour would have been part of the M72 touring cycle.
Although the collaboration never materialized, the Metallica frontman’s comments make clear that Turnstile have earned the respect of one of heavy metal’s biggest names.
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