Metallica and Red Cross Partner for Vegas Blood Drive, Offering Exclusive Fan Perks

Following the lifesaving success of last year’s blood drive efforts, which led to tens of thousands of donations, Metallica and the Red Cross are again teaming up to help patients in need and offer fans new perks for helping out.

In tandem with Metallica’s “Life Burns Faster” Las Vegas residency at the Sphere, the Red Cross, Metallica and its All Within My Hands foundation, are launching the “Red Cross x Metallica Blood Donation Experience” ─ a pop-up blood donation center where fans can pitch in as well as step into the world behind the scenes of a Metallica concert.

The experience will begin Sept. 28 at Fashion Show Las Vegas on the Strip. The immersive experience gives donors a sense of what it’s like backstage at a show, according to the announcement, and includes the opportunity to take a seat at a replica drum set similar to the one used by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. All donors will receive a limited-edition T-shirt designed by Squindo, while supplies last. All donors will also be entered for a chance to win the same replica drum kit.

Last year, the band’s partnership with the Red Cross led to the donation of almost 40,000 units (at the time), according to tour accountant and longtime Metallica team member Chris Risner, who helped organize the efforts. Risner, for his part, said the band loved the idea immediately.

“All I did was figure out that if you take a match to gasoline, it will ignite.” says Risner, whose time in the industry dates back to Cleveland working with longtime area promoters the Belkins. Risner says he and the band welcome others to “steal” the idea and help further the efforts toward much-needed blood donation.

“Please steal it and do better than we did, because, you know what, then we’re coming at you and we’re going to do even better than that,” Risner says, echoing the band’s competitive spirit. “It’s just one of those things where good begets good.”

Metallica’s Sphere residency runs Oct. 1 to March 13, although the band just announced additional U.S. dates as part of its ongoing “M72 World Tour ” for spring 2027.

Metallica is represented by IAG and managed by Q Prime.

_Originally reported by [Pollstar](https://news.pollstar.com/2026/09/18/metallica-and-the-red-cross-continue-blood-donation-efforts-with-exclusive-new-vegas-experience/)._