Jason Newsted is recalling one of the rare times Metallica stopped a concert, and it happened after darts were thrown at the band onstage during a show in Canada, according to Rolling Stone.
During an appearance on Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, the former Metallica bassist said the incident took place in a remote part of Canada when the band was still growing its audience there. Newsted said promoters sometimes split venues in half with a rubber curtain, which put some fans close to the stage and others up near the band in the seats.
Newsted said he and singer James Hetfield suddenly found themselves in the path of thrown darts while the group was playing. One dart landed near Hetfield’s tennis shoe, and the band stopped the performance. Hetfield reportedly picked up the dart and reacted angrily.
According to Newsted, fans quickly helped identify the person responsible, and security and sheriffs removed him from the venue. Newsted also said Metallica’s audience often policed itself, something he described as part of what made the band’s fan base so powerful.
Newsted is currently touring with his Chophouse Band on Blackberry Smoke’s 25th anniversary tour. On the podcast, Blackberry Smoke frontman Charlie Starr also discussed the story and said Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes once described Metallica’s “Die! Die!” chant as one of the most powerful live moments he had ever witnessed.
