Then he started gushing about U2’s Sphere debut like a kid who just discovered lasers. “I was there opening night! Skipped the YouTube spoilers and everything. Blew. My. Mind. It’s like live shows upgraded to 2.0.” Let’s be real—U2 playing Achtung Baby in a giant disco ball for 40 STRAIGHT NIGHTS (Sept ‘23–March ‘24) was peak Bono spectacle. Fun fact: That album nearly broke the band up, but hey, now it’s making Sphere tourists cry into their $25 nachos.
When Stern tossed in the 2026 Super Bowl halftime rumor—in METALLICA’s hometown of San Francisco, no less—Lars just laughed: “F*** YEAH, we’d do it! SF + us = perfect match. But no one’s called. Yet.” Cue every Bay Area metalhead frantically tagging the NFL on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Kirk Hammett’s over here drooling over Sphere’s tech. Asked by The Hollywood Reporter if METALLICA would ever play there, he basically yelled: “HECK YES! A.I.? 16K screens? Sign me up!” Kirk’s probably already designing a laser-shooting guitar for the occasion.
Speaking of Sphere residents: PHISH did their psychedelic noodling there, THE EAGLES tempted fate with “Hotel California” (how meta), and DEAD & COMPANY summoned the ghosts of jam bands past. Oh, and let’s not forget UFC’s throwing punches there this September 2024. Because nothing says “immersive experience” like a knockout under 4D holograms.
And hey, Abu Dhabi’s getting its own Sphere! Because if there’s one thing the world needs, it’s MORE places to watch Bono’s face in 16K resolution. Stay tuned, folks—METALLICA’s 2026 might just include a Vegas detour. Maybe.
