Metallica delivered one of their most intimate showcases in years, headlining a sold-out club-style event that brought the band up close with fans in Amagansett, New York. The quartet performed for roughly 500 people on a makeshift stage inside the Stephen Talkhouse, a room built for about 250, on Thursday night, August 28, as part of a special celebration tied to the launch of Metallica’s year-long SiriusXM channel, Maximum Metallica.
The rare non-festival gig marked the smallest Metallica show since at least 2016, a notable contrast to their high-octane stadium and arena runs. The event doubled as a launch party for Maximum Metallica, a 24-hour programming lineup now available on the SiriusXM app and in all SiriusXM-equipped vehicles.
Fans who attended were treated to a set heavy on classics, including Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman and Fade to Black. In a moment that paid tribute to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica also delivered Crazy Train in the middle of the performance. The spectacle will be broadcast beyond the night’s surprise performance: Metallica Live At Stephen Talkhouse is set to premiere on SiriusXM on September 1, with ongoing rebroadcasts on Maximum Metallica throughout the week. The full concert will also air on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM channel, Howard 101, on September 5.
Metallica’s June 3, 2025 show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta was a high-profile reminder of the band’s enduring appeal while the Stephen Talkhouse date underscored their willingness to surprise fans with intimate, off-beat venues. The New York performance fits within the band’s long history of connecting with fans in a variety of formats and settings.
About Metallica: The Los Angeles–based metal pioneers formed in 1981 when James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich teamed with guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo. With roughly 125 million albums sold worldwide, Metallica has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands of all time. Their multi-platinum catalog includes Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, Metallica (The Black Album), Load, Reload, St. Anger, Death Magnetic, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, and 72 Seasons. The band has earned nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards and multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.
Why this matters: The intimate Stephen Talkhouse show demonstrates Metallica’s ongoing commitment to fan engagement, even as they continue wide-reaching tours and radio partnerships. Launching Maximum Metallica gives fans exclusive access to deep-dive content, rare performances and behind-the-scenes insights, reinforcing Metallica’s relevance across generations and media platforms.
Summary: Metallica’s rare, small-venue performance in Amagansett showcased the band’s enduring appeal and willingness to surprise fans, while aligning with the launch of Maximum Metallica on SiriusXM. The celebration included a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne and a setlist that highlighted the band’s most beloved anthems, underscoring Metallica’s lasting impact on rock music and live performance.
Positive takeaway: The night highlighted a hopeful trend for veteran bands: staying connected with core fans through intimate moments and exclusive media collaborations, signaling a sustainable model for legacy acts in the modern era.