Picture Metallica playing to 500 people when they usually fill stadiums for 50,000. That’s exactly what happened when the metal legends squeezed into a tent next to Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, creating one of 2025’s most exclusive live music moments.
Star-Studded Audience Gets Up Close and Personal
The August 28 show celebrated the launch of Maximum Metallica, their new SiriusXM channel, but the real celebration belonged to fans who scored impossible-to-get tickets through contests. Paul McCartney, Sylvester Stallone, Michael J. Fox, and Howard Stern joined the lucky winners in a setup that felt more like a house party than a concert.
“This reminds us of the club days,” James Hetfield told the crowd. “Getting hot and sweaty and up close and personal. We’re gonna get loud tonight. The neighbors are gonna know who’s here.”
And they delivered on that promise. No arena barriers, no nosebleed sections, just pure proximity to four guys who’ve sold over 125 million albums worldwide. The tent setup next to the legendary Hamptons venue created an atmosphere that even Paul McCartney couldn’t experience at a typical stadium show.
Greatest Hits Meet Unexpected Tributes
The setlist read like a Metallica fan’s fever dream:
- “Creeping Death” opened the assault
- Classics like “Master of Puppets,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Enter Sandman” reminded everyone why these songs became rock albums
But the night’s surprise belonged to Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, who delivered their own take on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” as their nightly “doodle”—a tribute that felt both spontaneous and perfectly planned.
This wasn’t the polished stadium experience with pyrotechnics and massive screens. Instead, you got raw energy bouncing off canvas walls, the kind of intimacy that made everyone—celebrity or contest winner—feel like they’d stumbled into rock history. The sweat-soaked atmosphere transported attendees back to the club days Hetfield referenced.
The show premiered on SiriusXM September 1 through their Maximum Metallica channel, with replays scheduled throughout the week. But the real broadcast happened live for those lucky enough to witness it. Sometimes the smallest rooms create the biggest memories, and this tent in the Hamptons proved that even metal’s biggest names can still deliver lightning in a bottle.
