2,972 pieces* (It's true! See below for the breakdown.)
I had no intention of making a second LEGO concert this year. Being a physical builder (and not always buying the right parts the first time) it gets expensive. But then my plans quickly changed when Metallica kicked-off:
M72 World Tour
No Repeat Weekend
2 Nights. 2 Different Sets. 2 Different Opening Acts.
In the Round.
Inspiration struck, excitement took over, and I simply had to build this now.
Like many Metallica fans the world-over, I was awestruck by the pictures and videos I was seeing online of the massive stage and towers displaying fantastic video and dazzling lights.
As I watched, thoroughly entranced, I decided to collect photos and make notes through all the concerts in Europe, and then spend the month of July working on prototypes.
In August I began placing orders and building on the weekends, and I chronicled all of this on *********. By October I was wrapping up the stage and making sure I had all the pieces I needed for the towers.
Everything about this was a challenge! The round stage, the differing heights, and towers (or as I called them for many months: screen thingies). I decided to double down on these challenges by limiting myself to a 48x48 baseplate to make sure it didn’t become too big to be able to display.
Why would this make a good set? Here are two reasons, LEGO and Lars Ulrich. Arguably Denmark's two most famous exports. The better question might be: How has this not happened yet? Both LEGO and Metallica fans are avid collectors, both fans come in all ages, and this is a set that everyone can enjoy.
My hope is that when LEGO fans look at it, they appreciate that not only is this all physically built, but also my building techniques for the round stage, multiple levels of the stage, and the towers. I hope that when Metallica fans look at it, those who have already seen the concert in person are taken back to those two unforgettable nights, those who will be going in 2024 become even more excited for their concert weekend, and everyone says I WANT THIS for my collection!
I had so much fun making this and am so very pleased with how it turned out. I would love for the Metallica Family to have the opportunity to make their own Metallica M72 World Tour Concert.
If you would like to one day build this, please take a minute (that’s all it takes!) to set up a LEGO IDEAS account and click the SUPPORT button. 10,0000 votes are needed for it to move-on to be reviewed by LEGO for consideration as a potential buy/buildable set. Sharing to your favorite social media platform will help others to see and support it too. Thank you for your support!
The minifigures are:
Lars Ulrich, drums, 1981 founding member
James Hetfield, vocals & rhythm guitar, 1981 founding member
Kirk Hammett, lead guitar, 1983
Robert Trujillo, bass guitar, 2003
*Tracked in Google Sheets! The 2,972 piece count is as follows:
Floor: 419
Stage: 1106
Towers: 1120
Drum Kit: 77
Microphones: 42
Setlists: 4
Pedals: 3
Pyro: 6
Band: 24
Chair: 11
Stage Rope Light: 48
Stage Spotlights: 16
Tower Spotlights: 96