Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen discussed James Hetfield’s recent comments about Metallica’s decision to stay out of politics, speaking on Consequence.
Hetfield stated during a Metallica show at the Sphere that the band would not use their platform to push a political agenda. Jourgensen was asked to respond to this stance and to discuss artists’ relationship with politics and public speech.
Question: “What are your thoughts on Metallica taking that neutral stance?”
“My thoughts are each artist should do what feels comfortable for them, whether it’s Metallica taking a neutral stance, although they’ve taken stances before, but now they’re in a phase where they wanna do that,” Jourgensen said. “I think that the artist should be comfortable in what they’re doing.”
He continued: “I’m not gonna be one of these people that are gonna be piling on Metallica, like, saying, ‘Well, you, you have to take a stand right now.’ It’s, like, do what you feel comfortable doing. But I would like it so people would feel more comfortable taking a stand without having to realize that your words are alienating half of the populace.”
Jourgensen then addressed what he saw as the deeper issue behind such decisions. “What are they worried about? More royalties? I mean, they’ve made a lot of money. So what are they worried about? That’s my only thing, and that’s this climate of fear that we have going on between media and government, in cahoots of silencing artists, which are actually some of the best minds because they live outside society, and they’re able to view society with a different lens.”
He reflected on his own position in the music industry. “We’re being silenced. I’m not silenced. But on the other hand, I don’t give a shit. I made enough money, not Metallica money, but I made enough money that I never thought I’d be here 45 years later. So, I can still speak my piece.”
Jourgensen made these remarks in response to Hetfield’s comments about artists who use their stage to influence audiences politically.
“Metallica is not here, like some other entertainers, to influence you with their bullshit, OK?” Hetfield previously said during the Sphere show.
The discussion highlights different approaches within the rock and metal community to the question of whether performers should take political stands.
Hetfield made his comments during Metallica’s concert at the Sphere on October 10, 2026. Metallica made history as the first heavy metal act to headline the Sphere. The band’s residency at the Las Vegas venue continues through March 2027.
Hetfield’s approach to staying out of politics is longstanding. In 2017, he declined to discuss his political views in an interview with Chilean newspaper La Tercera. Two years earlier, in a 2015 BBC interview, he said Metallica tried to stay away from politics and religion because those subjects could be divisive. Lars Ulrich, the band’s drummer, has described himself as having different political views from Hetfield and said in 2016 that he had never willfully had a political conversation with Hetfield despite spending decades together in the band.
Hetfield’s recent comments come weeks after similar tensions in the music world. In September 2026, English singer Ed Sheeran removed rapper Macklemore from his Loop Tour following Macklemore’s onstage pro-Palestine statements during performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On September 4, 2026, while opening for Sheeran, Macklemore made a speech where he declared “Free Palestine”.
Al Jourgensen has a long history of being outspoken on political matters. On Ministry’s 16th studio album Hopiumforthemasses, Jourgensen is politically direct on tracks including “Goddamn White Trash” and “B.D.E.” He has been politically active for over 30 years throughout his career in music.
Hetfield’s stance also drew criticism from Roger Waters, the former Pink Floyd singer and bassist. Waters has spent years using his platform to speak about political issues and called Hetfield a “prick” during an appearance on The Katie Halper Show podcast.
