Metallica Defies Ban with Delilah Cover at Cardiff Stadium

The heavy metal band Metallica performed a cover of the Tom Jones classic "Delilah" during their concert at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Sunday, June 28, 2026, directly defying a formal ban on the song at the venue. The performance occurred during the band's nightly "doodle" segment, a feature where guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo play improvised jams or local tributes.

The duo played the song approximately eight songs into their set, following their own track "Fuel," and led the audience in a singalong. The act was a pointed reference to a local controversy, as "Delilah" has been prohibited from being performed by choirs at the stadium since 2023.

The ban stems from the song's lyrical content, which depicts a man murdering his female partner in a jealous rage. For years, the 1968 hit had been an unofficial anthem for Welsh rugby supporters at matches held in the stadium, with Jones himself having performed it there. However, stadium officials began distancing themselves from the track in 2015, removing it from official playlists. The formal prohibition was enacted three years ago during a period of intense scrutiny over the culture within the...