Metallica fans given lifetime ban for scaling stadium speaker tower

Two Metallica fans have been given a lifetime ban from the Optus Stadium in Perth after scaling a speaker tower during a live show.

The incident took place at the venue in Western Australia on November 1, as the metal icons took to the stage as part of their mammoth ‘M72 World Tour’.

According to reports from PerthNow, a 20-year-old fan named Beau William Loch Rollings and a 23-year-old called Rory Hugh Culbert both jumped over the safety barrier and climbed up the central tower in the stadium during the set.

They reportedly scaled to heights of up to 50 metres, and were up there for around 20 minutes as the band played – leading to venue staff and police having to intervene.

When they came down, police took their phones, which allegedly had footage of them climbing, as part of an investigation into trespassing. Later, the two men pleaded guilty to the charges and each was ordered to pay roughly AU$300 (£150), and fined AU$1,000 (£500).

In their plea, they acknowledged the severity of their actions on the night, and failed to share a motive. They have been issued a lifetime ban from the Optus Stadium too.

As reported by Billboard, their defence lawyer Rachael Gemmell described their actions as “just stupid behaviour”, and Magistrate Ruth Dineen claimed that the decision to scale the tower was “an incredibly stupid thing to do and a good way to ruin your night out”.

She also said that while the move may have “seemed funny at the time”, it raised serious concerns about safety.

The ‘M72’ tour kicked off back in 2023 and comes in support of the thrash giants’ metal icons’ 11th and latest studio album, ’72 Seasons’.

When they kicked off their UK and European leg that year, NME gave their opening night in Amsterdam a four-star review, and praised the band for still being able to create an electric atmosphere, over four decades since they formed.

“Metallica have always been a gateway band for heavy music, but there’s a renewed excitement around them now. Tonight’s surprising, ambitious and giddy gig matches that energy at every turn,” it read. “From the gorgeous ‘Nothing Else Matters’ through to the unifying ‘Seek & Destroy’, the majesty of heavy music is on full display throughout the gig as Metallica prove why they’re clearly still the greatest metal band around.”

The recent Australian shows also came on the heels of frontman James Hetfield and co. heading out on their 2025 North American leg of their ‘M72’ tour, and announcing details of an “immersive” VR concert film, which they shot in Mexico City.

At the shows down under, Metallica made nods to Aussie artists at each of their shows – breaking out covers of local tracks midway through their sets. While in Perth, for instance, they played a brief cover of the John Butler Trio track ‘Zebra’, and the moment led to the the roots-rock singer thanking them by sharing his own blues-inspired cover of their fan-favourite song ‘Enter Sandman’.

While on stage in Adelaide later that week, bassist Rob Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett also made a nod to the ‘80s rockers INXS and The Angels by performing a mash-up of their respective hits ‘Need You Tonight’ and ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’.

Back in May, Metallica confirmed that their lengthy trek of ‘M72’ shows will continue into a fourth year, with more UK and European shows lined-up for 2026. These include two nights at the London Stadium on July 3 and 5. You can buy remaining UK tickets here and European tickets here.

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