Metallica Cardiff food bank donation efforts were tied to the band’s Sunday show at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, where tens of thousands of heavy metal fans were heading into the city. Roads were to be shut around the city centre, and extra train services were planned to try to limit disruption.
Chris Risner on the drive
Chris Risner, Metallica’s tour accountant, said the idea began with the band and had grown into something far bigger than expected, describing it as “mind-blowing how big it has become.” He also said giving back was important to the band and the fans, and that they expected the effort to “see a lot of fruit.”
The group had already announced last month that it was teaming with the Welsh Blood Service “to give something meaningful back to the communities that welcome us.” Alan Prosser called that collaboration “a unique moment” for UK blood donation, while the band linked the Cardiff stop to blood and plasma donations across Wales.
Principality Stadium in Cardiff
Metallica was due to take to the stage on Sunday as the second and last act performing at the venue this year. The Cardiff stop formed part of the M72 World Tour, which had reached its fourth year and had drawn four million fans.
Dedicated Metallica blood donation sessions ran across Wales during the week before and after the concert, and the campaign was scheduled to continue until 3 July. Metallica had called on people to donate blood and plasma as “a simple act that can make a powerful difference.”
Welsh Blood Service support
Simon Campbell-Daves said the “Metallica family” had come out in their thousands to support the drive and help save lives. He said, “We cannot be any more thankful to them and to Metallica for their support in making this happen, it's been incredible.”
The combined message from the band and the Welsh Blood Service was straightforward: the concert brought a large crowd to Cardiff, while the donation campaign tried to convert that attention into blood and plasma sessions that continued beyond the show. The remaining question is how many people actually gave during the Cardiff campaign by the time the sessions close on 3 July.
