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Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Entertainment
Stef Lach

Watch James Hetfield sing Metallica hit Enter Sandman after inhaling helium

James Hetfield of Metallica performs onstage.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield celebrated his 61st birthday by breaking into a high-pitched version of the thrash icons' smash hit Enter Sandman.

A video posted to Metallica's Instagram account today shows the vocalist inhaling helium gas from a birthday balloon before singing Happy Birthday to himself then saying: "Hi, everybody. I'm 61. Did you know that?"

And after breaking into a fit of giggles, Papa Het sings a few lines of Enter Sandman like you've never heard it before.

Watch the clip below.

Hetfield is showing no signs of slowing down. Metallica are on the latest leg of their M72 World Tour, which features a new in-the-round stage set with the band's iconic "snake pit" relocated to the centre of the stage, giving fans a 360-degree view of the performance.

They are playing two shows in each city on the tour, with completely different setlists each night.

The tour is in support of the band's latest album, 72 Seasons.

Enter Sandman appeared on Metallica's Black Album. Released on July 29, 1991, Enter Sandman reached No.16 in the US and No.5 in the UK.

Enter Sandman and the Black Album proved to be game-changers, turning Metallica from one of metal’s biggest bands into a genuine mainstream phenomenon.

Metallica – M72 tour dates 2024

Aug 04: Foxborough Gillette Stadium, MA, USA
Aug 09: Chicago Soldier Field, IL, USA
Aug 11: Chicago Soldier Field, IL, USA
Aug 16: Minneapolis US Bank Stadium, MN, USA
Aug 18: Minneapolis US Bank Stadium, MN, USA
Aug 23: Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium, Canada
Aug 25: Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium, Canada
Aug 30: Seattle Lumen Field, WA, USA
Sep 01: Seattle Lumen Field, WA, USA
Sep 20: Mexico City Foro Sol, Mexico
Sep 22: Mexico City Foro Sol, Mexico
Sep 27: Mexico City Foro Sol, Mexico
Sep 29: Mexico City Foro Sol, Mexico

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