Metallica gave Melbourne fans an unexpected treat on Saturday night (November 8) during their M72 World Tour stop at the city’s Belluna Arena, covering iconic Aussie punk rockers The Living End. The surprise rendition sparked a witty response from frontman Chris Cheney, who shared a cheeky anecdote from his high school days that full-circle connected to the band’s tribute.
As part of their signature “doodle” segment — where lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Rob Trujillo honour local music acts in each city — the pair launched into a high-energy instrumental version of The Living End’s 1997 hit “Prisoner of Society.” Before diving into the punk anthem, they teased INXS’s “Don’t Change” before launching into the raucous track, much to the delight of the Melbourne crowd. Trujillo even took on vocal duties, bringing even more energy to the performance.
Initially, The Living End offered a quiet gesture of gratitude via Instagram Stories, but by Sunday, Cheney took to social media with a personal story that harked back to a painful yet amusing memory from 1992.
In a post, the Aussie frontman recalled his high school days when his band, Runaway Boys, lost a Battle of the Bands competition at Wheelers Hill High School to a Metallica tribute act called Texas Rose. The cover band had performed “Enter Sandman”, and according to Cheney, they “simply stole the show and won.” As a sore loser at the time, Cheney was approached by the bass player afterward with a big grin and the words: “Hehe, we beat you!”
In a surprising twist over three decades later, Cheney delivered a triumphantly cheeky response: “Well guess what, motherf–ker, Metallica are now covering our song in front of 50,000 people! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it! Funny old life, innit.”
This surprise performance was one of many local tributes from Metallica during their Australian tour, which has seen them covering everything from John Butler Trio’s “Zebra” in Perth to The Angels’ “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?” in Adelaide. Melbourne’s stop marked the halfway point in the band’s long-awaited return to Australia and New Zealand, with upcoming shows in Brisbane (November 12) and Sydney (November 15). This tour is Metallica’s first visit to the region since the Soundwave Festival in 2013.
Meanwhile, The Living End is celebrating their own tour, having just kicked off the I Only Trust Rock ‘n’ Roll Australian tour, where they are playing their self-titled 1998 debut album in full, alongside tracks from their new record. The band’s upcoming shows include Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle, and a special Sydney Opera House Forecourt performance in December.
Fans can expect even more surprises and tributes as both bands continue their respective tours, showing the ever-evolving connections within the music world.