On Saturday evening, May 30, the Olympic Stadium in Berlin witnessed a historic event. The legendary American rock band Metallica held a concert that gathered approximately 94,000 spectators. This was not just another show, but a new attendance record for the famous arena, as well as the largest rock concert in German history.
Unique stage and "Snake Pit"
Gathering such a large number of fans was made possible by an innovative organization of space. The musicians performed on a circular stage providing a 360-degree view. In the center of the venue, the famous "Snake Pit" was organized — an exclusive fan zone where the most dedicated fans could be in close proximity to the performers.
During the performance, the band surprised the audience by performing a cover version of the song "Sonne" (Sun) by the German band Rammstein. James Hetfield and his colleagues sang the lyrics in German, involving the entire stadium crowd in the performance.
History of the stadium's records
The Olympic Stadium in Berlin, built for the 1936 Games, is the home arena of the football club Hertha and the German national team. Over its long history, it has hosted numerous landmark events. The previous attendance record belonged to the band U2, which gathered nearly 90,000 people at the same venue in 2009. Then, as in the case of Metallica, an unusual stage structure was used.
It is important to note that the largest event in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany remains the football match between the national teams of Germany and Switzerland, which took place in Stuttgart in 1950. Between 103,000 and 115,000 spectators attended the first international match of the German national team after World War II.
Legend of world rock
Metallica, founded in 1981 in Los Angeles, remains one of the most successful bands in the world. Their album sales have exceeded 100 million copies. Since the beginning, the band has been led by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield. Starting their career in the heavy metal style, the band managed to go beyond genre limitations while remaining true to their roots.
It is worth mentioning that the Olympic Stadium in Berlin has not always been associated only with triumphs. In July 2023, Rammstein performed there, whose concerts sparked protests due to a sex scandal surrounding frontman Till Lindemann. However, this time the atmosphere was exclusively festive, confirming Metallica's status as the main heroes of the modern rock scene.