This week, on a new episode of The Metallica Report, frontman James Hetfield is joined by Metallica’s M72 Tour Pyrotechnic Project Manager Reid Derne, giving fans a unique look at the power a little fuel and fire can bring to a live performance.
LISTEN NOW: The Metallica Report | Episode 23: Gimme Fuel, Gimme Fire
As any fan can attest, smoke and flames go hand-in-hand with the thunderous sounds of Metallica, and this week we get a chance to dive into the history of its dramatic usage during the band’s epic concerts with hosts Steffan Chirazi and Renée Richardson.
The band’s main Pyro man, Reid Derne, and his team at Pyrotech, took over the hot seat after James’ infamous 1992 stage accident in Montreal which left him with numerous burns. Despite his bad luck, the frontman remains fearless around flames thanks to the impeccable safety record of Derne and his team, remaining fully committed to the energy it brings to a live show.
While walls of fire have been part of the band's concerts for years, their M72 Tour setup is without a doubt worth a quick tally: 14 flame units, 24 50-foot cannon simulators, 24 50-foot comets, 24 50-foot flashbangs, and the list goes on. "After we have our gear and you get a sound man," Hetfield explains, "it's, 'OK, who's gonna be our pyro guy?' That's the next thing you're adding."
James continues, "Pyro, growing up in the '70s, was kind of a part of taking your music to another level. Obviously, KISS has really done it, but it's always been a part of, even in the clubs. Bringing a guy in that messed with gunpowder or whatnot, and made their own bombs. There is absolute danger to it, and I am glad that there are Fire Marshals that are looking out for the safety of everyone."
"Pyro was always, for me, an exciting jolt in the concert," Hetfield says. "When I know the pyro is coming up and I'm able to look at the crowd in the face, and it goes off, and to see their reaction is pretty amazing." But with that said, he's also hyper-aware of the damage that can be done. "Obviously, I've been really close to some pyro that wasn't so fun," he adds. "It was a long rehab and it does do damage to your skin. But at the gigs, even just feeling the heat from some of the stuff... people way up at the top, they're feeling it too. It's powerful; it's just another exciting part, a little danger of what we do. I still can't believe that we get away with some of the stuff that we do at some of the concerts."
"We've got some pretty knowledgable people out here now, it is safe and if someone's standing over something, they're not setting it off. We've got cameras up there, we've got spotters," James explains. "It tends to be Kirk [Hammett] who's standing over the pyro at the wrong time. Really glad that he's still alive after all these years. He just tends to wander."
"You might be able to spot the pyro guy," Hetfield laughs. "He's missing a few fingers or he's got no hair or something. We've had quite a few pyro guys over the years... They're professionals though, they really are. We've had some that aren't, and we've learned a lot over the years."
"It's a very calculated business that obviously involves people's lives -- public and performers," says Reid Derne, Metallica's Chief Show Designer. "It's my job to be safe, bottom line. So, if you have someone who's a little too aggressive or a little too happy about fire, then maybe that's not the right one," he counters. "I'd rather a firefighter than someone who sets things on fire."
"The concept," Reid says of the use of pyro in Metallica's live show, "is to make people feel it. I don't necessarily need to scare somebody. especially in today's environment of what's going on out there and some of the things that have happened. The ultimate goal is not to make somebody run in fear, the idea is for them to enjoy the show."
Listen to the full episode of The Metallica Report above -- plus, check out Metallica Radio and more on the free Audacy app.