Metallica toured with this legendary rock band 33 years ago, sparking a decades-long feud

What was supposed to be a historical event turned out to be such a source of anguish behind the scenes. Over 30 years ago, Metallica played with Guns N’ Roses, a widely anticipated rock band at the time. They made magic on stage, leaving the audience with an unforgettable experience. Offstage is a different story. Fans frequently compared Metallica to Guns N’ Roses during their peak in the 1990s, fueling enthusiasm for the tour. The enmity between the bands lasted several years due to various factors. To this day, it appears that neither of those bands will tour together again.

Metallica and Guns n’ Roses’ differences couldn’t be more apparent.

The trip was initially quite enthusiastic, as seen by press conferences held by fans and bands. Two of the best rock bands of the 1990s were set to collaborate and unite their fans in a variety of places. However, their differences made it impossible for the relationship to succeed. Metallica, on the one hand, were highly professional and meticulous, consistently arriving on stage on time and behaving peacefully behind the scenes. Guns N’ Roses were known for their risk-taking and rebellious nature. A few of their events ended in disaster, and one in Montreal resulted in a riot that injured and arrested several people. Guns N’ Roses’ terrible performances resulted in venue bans and fines for late and no-shows.

The unprofessionalism of Guns N’ Roses led to a schism between the bands, and the hostility they displayed on stage was often carried over into their personal lives. Fans were unaware of the ongoing conflict between Metallica and Guns N Roses until Axl Rose revealed his bitterness from the 1992 tour in an interview years later. He referred to Metallica as “cartoon characters,” and the words quickly spread in a subsequent interview. Metallica frontman James Hetfield responded to Rose’s statements, describing them as “a different type of band – and I use the word ‘band’ loosely.” “There’s a guy and some other guys.” Rose and Slash were feuding, and Duff McKagan had already quit the band. Rose didn’t respond to the comment.

Was Axl Rose the problem?

Metallica aren’t the only band that have a problem with Guns N’ Roses, especially Rose. Many bands, notably Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails, openly criticized Gus N’ Roses before the tour, with Chris Cornell labeling Rose as a “obstacle” to his admiration for the band. Kurt Cobain, Nirvana’s former leader, criticized Rose, resulting in an altercation. This was one of the reasons behind Nirvana’s refusal to open for Metallica and Guns N’ Roses’ tours. However, the music was never an issue. Dislikes were personal. Hetfield has nothing pleasant to say about Guns N’ Roses. In a 2013 interview with Howard Stern, he admitted that the band “stood for everything we didn’t like.” Ten years after the tour, the tension was still present.

Interviews conducted years after the tour appear to point to Rose as the primary source of the bands’ enmity. Metallica’s lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett, told Kerrang that the tour was “stressful” due to Rose. “There were so many problems,” Hammett explained. “At that time, you never really knew if Axl felt like playing the show or not, if he was going to be on time or not, or if there was going to be an issue with the actual show.” That kind of drove everybody insane.”

Matt Sorum, former drummer of Guns N’ Roses, attributed the hostility between the two bands to their competitive attitude. In a 2019 interview with The Desert Sun, he indicated that Rose and Metallica’s Lars Ulrich were the major competitors. “Axl’s intention was to rule the world and wasn’t afraid to say it,” Sorum told me. Then Lars Ulrich appeared, and he intended to control the world. We said, ‘You’ll have to open for us because we run the globe.’ “They were extremely competitive with us.”

How Ozzy Osbourne Reunited Axl Rose and James Hetfield.

Prior to his death, Ozzy Osbourne embarked on a farewell tour that brought many people together. During the tour, Rose and Hetfield were seen together, despite their long-standing feud with their own bands. They reconciled backstage, marking the end of their animosity. Although the conflict appeared to be resolved at Osbourne’s concert, this does not imply that they are best of buddies. Despite their good relationship, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses are unlikely to tour together again. Unfortunately, the bands’ careers have diverged, making a reunion tour unlikely.