Metallica built their career on the backs of albums like Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lightning , but these hard rockers are all heart, and they’re showing it at the right time.
With Australia battling a historically bad fire season, the members of Metallica are stepping up with a big donation.
Given what’s happening in Australia, it’s easy to see why Metallica and so many others want to help out.
Australia’s fires have already burned up more than 10 million hectares of land, an area larger than the state of Kentucky. At least 25 people have lost their lives, almost 2,000 homes have been lost, and an estimated one billion animals have died.
Worse, experts say that the already-enormously destructive fires are expected to continue burning for months , according to NPR .
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Metallica announced on their Instagram that they would be donating $750,000 ASD (about $515,000 US) to relief efforts.
“We are totally overwhelmed by the news of the wildfires sweeping through millions of acres across Australia, with major impact in New South Wales and Victoria,” the post read. “The resulting destruction and devastating effects on all residents, animals, the environment and the incredible land in Australia is truly heartbreaking.”
Metallica had planned on touring Australia and New Zealand just last year.
However, they were forced to cancel the tour after lead singer James Hetfield relapsed and entered rehab.
The band, along with its All Within My Hands foundation, is donating the funds to “the NSW Rural Fire Service and to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria to aid in the relief efforts.”
They also urged their fans and followers to donate as well.
The members of Metallica are just the latest celebs to pledge a significant donation to Australia’s bushfire battle.
Chris Hemsworth and Elton John have each pledged to give $1 million to the cause, and $500,000 has been pledged by Pink , as well as husband and wife duo Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Many others have made donations without making amounts public, started their own fundraising efforts, and simply passed along credible donation info to their fans.
Australian comedian Celeste Barber started a fundraiser for NSW Rural Fire Service & Brigades Donations Fund on Facebook that, so far, has raised more than $42 million!
Given the canceled tour and all the big names trying to help with relief efforts, one fan chimed in with an interesting idea on Metallica’s Instagram post.
“Ya’ll should do a fundraiser concert with a bunch of other rock bands like Live AID but you donate funds to Australians affected by the fires,” they wrote.
And it seems that great minds are already on it, as Queen recently confirmed they had been approached about performing for just such a benefit gig. So, keep your eyes peeled for that!
If you’d like to donate to help Australia’s relief efforts, there are many good, credible agencies, including the NSW RSPCA and the NSW Rural Fire Service. Donate to the RSPCA right here or to the NSW RFS right here .
