Thanks to Metallica, the American Red Cross records more than 40,000 blood donations

Metal runs through their veins. But does their blood flow for metal? Metallica fans responded to the group’s call. In April 2025, California musicians and their foundation All Within My Hands launched a partnership with the American Red Cross to encourage “their fans and friends to take action to save lives” by donating their blood. In the space of twelve months, more than 25,000 donations were recorded in the United States as part of this collaboration and 15,000 others around the world following a major awareness campaign during the tour M72 World Tour.

In a press release relayed by Variety Thursday March 19, Lars Ulrich, founding member of Metallica, was delighted to see such mobilization from his community. “The enthusiasm of the fans really made a difference, and we are honored to stand alongside them”said the drummer. To encourage their fans to donate blood, he and the three other members of the group, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, offered in exchange for this gesture to offer them a limited edition t-shirt. People who donated blood between July 29, 2025 and February 28, 2026 were also entered into a list to try to win an exclusive guitar autographed by the entire group.

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Metallica – Enter Sandman (1991)

16% of first donors

For its part, the Red Cross can only celebrate such results. In the American press, the humanitarian aid association described “truly remarkable what Metallica and their fans have accomplished this year”. Its executive director, Darren Irby, said that in addition to reaching so many people, the group’s awareness campaign managed to arouse the interest of a new generation of donors with 16% of first donors, half of whom were aged 16 to 24. “They invited people to donate blood for the first time, while also encouraging teenagers and young adults to donate blood”noted the Red Cross.

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The Californian training hopes to continue this momentum over the next twelve months with a new blood donation awareness campaign planned this fall during its residency called Life Burns Faster at the Sphere in Las Vegas, one of the most impressive concert halls in the world. Metallica will once again defend their album there 72 seasonspublished in 2023.