Metallica’s Sphere Residency Inspired by U2’s Vegas Run

Views 9 Published by July 18, 2026

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, inspired by U2's opening night at the Sphere in Las Vegas, announced the band's own residency at the venue. The Life Burns Faster run will take place weekly from October 2026 through March 2027 across 24 nights.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich attended U2’s historic opening night at the Sphere in Las Vegas and said the experience reinvigorated his sense of what was possible on stage. “I was there opening night and was so just fucking awestruck, inspired, energized — all of it,” Ulrich told U2 guitarist the Edge during his “Close To The Edge” show on SiriusXM. “It was just, like, ‘Holy shit, this is somehow another frontier.'”

Metallica will launch their own residency at the Sphere this fall. The band’s Life Burns Faster run — named after a lyric from “Master of Puppets” — initially had eight scheduled dates but expanded to 24 nights due to overwhelming fan demand. The residency will run weekly in two-date increments from October 2026 through March 2027.

Ulrich acknowledged the challenge of performing at the venue, which features massive wraparound 16K screens and a cutting-edge sound system. “It’s gonna be challenging. And obviously, like everybody else I’ve talked to about it, it’s overwhelming and fucking intimidating,” he said. “But hopefully when we step out on stage that first night, we’ll have it somewhat together.”

Since U2 opened the Sphere, the venue has become a coveted destination for major touring acts. The Eagles currently have several dates scheduled there, while Phish, Dead & Company, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, and the Backstreet Boys have previously performed residencies at the venue.