Roger Waters calls James Hetfield names on a podcast over Sphere speech

Pink Floyd cofounder Roger Waters lashed out at Metallica frontman James Hetfield on the Katie Halper Show podcast, according to Stereogum. The host raised remarks Hetfield made at a Metallica show at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where he said the band was not there, unlike some other entertainers, to influence the audience, but to help it forget the outside world, adding that Metallica's agenda was “love, energy, and heavy music.”

Waters, a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause for years who often criticises those who stay silent, called Hetfield “a complete prick,” claimed he had “an IQ of about three” and said that, whatever his fortune, “he's no musician.” He added that he had heard the band play acoustic instruments and found it appalling. Waters also said he wished someone in Hetfield's family had taught him early on that kindness and empathy matter more than loud music.

Stereogum notes that Waters has previously feuded with David Draiman, Thom Yorke and Nick Cave. The outlet also recalls that Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo performed Pink Floyd's “Run Like Hell” in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2019.

Born in 1943 in Great Bookham, England, Roger Waters co-founded Pink Floyd. His newest studio album is “The Dark Side of the Moon Redux” (2023), according to MusicBrainz. In September mbuzz reported that Waters and his son Harry had announced 58 North American dates in 2027 for “Roger Waters Presents LEGACY – A Pink Floyd Show.”