Former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney addressed his absence from Metallica’s ongoing Las Vegas Sphere residency, replying to a fan’s question in a statement shared on X.
The message came after a fan noted that David Ellefson, formerly of Megadeth, and Lloyd Grant, who played the second lead on an early Metallica demo, were at the opening night of the residency, and hoped that McGovney would also receive an invitation.
In his response, McGovney explained his current situation.
“Not invited,” McGovney said. “It’s okay. Las Vegas is over 2000 miles from here. I don’t have the time or money to travel out there. I still have a job where I have to physically be there 40 to 50 hours a week.”
The comment reflects the everyday realities of the former musician, whose connection to the band goes back much further than the residency he was asked about.
McGovney was Metallica’s original bassist, playing in the band’s earliest lineup in 1981 and 1982. He appeared on several of the group’s formative demo recordings during those years, before he was replaced by Cliff Burton in 1982. His tenure covers the period when the band was still shaping its sound and lineup, years before the release of its debut album.
The shows McGovney was asked about are among the biggest projects in Metallica’s recent career. The Sphere engagement follows the band’s signature “No Repeat Weekend” format, meaning Metallica plays two completely different setlists each night of a Thursday and Saturday pairing.
The residency runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through March 13, 2027, and includes 24 announced concerts. The opening night took place on Oct. 1, with the run designed so that no songs repeat between the Thursday and Saturday performances in each paired weekend.
The format gives fans a reason to attend multiple weekends, since each two-show block offers a completely different setlist experience. For McGovney, though, the distance between his current life and the band’s Las Vegas spectacle remains a practical matter rather than a question of interest.
