Metallica Fans Hit With Lifetime Bans After Perth Stadium Stunt
In a dramatic incident during Metallica’s Nov. 1 concert at Perth’s Optus Stadium, two Australian fans, Beau William Loch Rollings, 20, and Rory Hugh Culbert, 23, have been banned for life from the venue after climbing a speaker tower. The duo’s daring climb, which saw them scale the central structure to heights between 10 and 50 meters, lasted about 20 minutes while the band performed. The stunt not only captivated the audience but also prompted a significant security response from venue staff and local police, who quickly moved in to manage the situation. As part of their investigation into the trespass, authorities confiscated the pair’s phones, which contained footage of their climb.
The court proceedings that followed revealed the gravity of the situation. Magistrate Ruth Dineen condemned the action as “incredibly stupid,” emphasizing that what may have seemed amusing at the time posed serious safety risks. Both Rollings and Culbert pleaded guilty to trespassing, with the defense lawyer describing their actions as mere “stupid behavior.” Each was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay court costs, reflecting the serious nature of their actions. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with reckless behavior at large events, especially when safety measures are in place for the protection of all attendees.
While the incident unfolded, Metallica continued to entertain fans with their signature “doodle” segment, which has included surprise covers of local hits throughout their Australian tour. Notably, they performed “Zebra” by John Butler Trio, prompting Butler to share his own rendition of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” on social media. In a subsequent show in Adelaide, band members Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo creatively merged INXS’s “Need You Tonight” with The Angels’ “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” showcasing their appreciation for Australian music. Despite the unfortunate events surrounding the show, Metallica’s ability to engage with local culture remains a highlight of their tour, leaving fans with memorable experiences beyond the chaos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X490UPpXX7o
Two Australian
Metallica
fans have been hit with lifetime bans from Perth’s Optus Stadium after climbing a speaker tower during the band’s Nov. 1 show on the
M72 World Tour
.
According to local outlet
PerthNow
, 20-year-old Beau William Loch Rollings and 23-year-old Rory Hugh Culbert jumped a safety barrier and scaled the central tower inside the stadium bowl, clinging to the structure at heights reportedly between 10 and 50 meters for around 20 minutes while the concert continued.
The stunt triggered a major security response as venue staff and police moved in, with thousands of fans watching the incident unfold mid-show. Police later seized the pair’s phones, which contained footage of the climb, as part of the trespass investigation.
Magistrate Ruth Dineen was blunt in her assessment, describing the tower climb as “an incredibly stupid thing to do and a good way to ruin your night out,” noting that what “seemed funny at the time” had escalated into a serious safety issue.
Defence lawyer Rachael Gemmell characterized it as “just stupid behavior,” arguing the experience had been sobering for the young fans.
Both Rollings and Culbert entered guilty pleas to trespassing charges, acknowledging the gravity of the situation without offering a motive. Rollings was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $308.80 in court costs. Culbert received a similar penalty.
Throughout their Aussie tour, Metallica have delighted fans with
surprise covers of local hits, such as “Zebra”
by John Butler Trio during their signature “doodle” segment.
Butler, who is currently touring across Europe and the U.K., shared his bluesy interpretation via Instagram, using a custom-made Indian slide guitar known as a Chaturangui. “@metallica ‘Enter Sandman,’ but make it John Butlery,” he captioned the clip.
“It’s taken me a minute to pull my sh*t together after Metallica covered my song ‘Zebra’ last weekend in Perth/Boorloo… I thought I’d tackle one of their lesser-known tracks. I hope you like it.”
In Adelaide on Nov. 5, Hammett and Trujillo mashed up INXS’ “Need You Tonight” with the Angels’ “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again,” blending two Australian staples into a blistering live medley.
