Metallica fans got an unexpected scare during the band’s concert in Dublin, Ireland, when guitarist Kirk Hammett took a tumble off the stage mid-song.
The incident happened Friday, June 19, during the band’s performance at Aviva Stadium. Hammett was playing Metallica’s classic 1983 track “Seek & Destroy” when he appeared to lose his footing near the edge of the stage and fell into the crowd below.
Fan-shot videos quickly made the rounds online, showing the 63-year-old musician disappearing from view as shocked fans reached out toward him. According to reports, the mishap occurred after Hammett stepped onto a stage cover that unexpectedly gave way beneath him.
Fortunately, the fall didn’t keep him down for long. While he briefly missed part of the song, Hammett quickly got back on his feet and continued performing, helping Metallica close out the first of two Dublin shows on their ongoing M72 World Tour.
The guitarist later showed he was taking the whole thing in stride. Sharing footage of the moment to his Instagram Story, Hammett jokingly renamed the song “Slip & Destroy.”
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Fans were relieved to see the metal legend walk away uninjured.
“Is the guitar ok? 🤭 But seriously I hope Kirk is alright after that fall,” one commented on an Instagram video of the moment.
Another wrote, “And still rocked the f**k on.”
“But he kept fucking going fair play to him, legend,” a third said.
Hammett’s fall comes during a week that has seen another veteran rock stars experience a scary onstage incident.
That same day Rod Stewartsparked concern after appearing unsteady during a concert in Utah. Fan footage showed the 81-year-old singer leaning on equipment for support before crew members brought an oxygen tank onto the stage. After taking a few breaths, Stewart told the crowd “the show must go on” after he had “nearly fainted.”
While Stewart’s situation was linked to a recent string of health issues that forced him to postpone multiple performances, Hammett’s fall appears to have been nothing more than an unfortunate accident.
This story was originally published by Parade on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
