Virginia family say preparing for Metallica concert saved them from deadly truck crash

A family from Virginia have claimed that preparing to attend a Metallica concert saved them from being killed in a truck crash – find out more below.

• READ MORE: Metallica live in Amsterdam: still the greatest heavy metal band around

In the early hours of May 7, the McKee family escaped being involved in an accident when a truck crashed into their living room. The family attribute their escape to Metallica, saying they had gone to bed early as they were going to bring their daughter to the band’s concert later that day.

Speaking to the WDBJ7 news station recently, David and Kristin McKee shared that they typically stay up late and watch television late into the night in the living room. Kristin recalled a conversation with her husband to the station: “[I asked David,] ‘Do you wanna sit up?’ And he was like, ‘Nah, I think I just wanna go on to bed.’ I said, ‘I’ll go on to bed too.’ Then, just a few hours later, we heard a loud explosion, glass shattered. It was just madness from that point on.”

She added: “We were so fortunate that, that night, my daughter could have walked down that hallway and found us in the rubble. I thank God every day, and Metallica, for saving us.”

The couple’s teenage daughter – who had grown up listening to Metallica here and there through her father – became a bigger fan after their viral inclusion in Netflix’s Stranger Things. She read a snippet of an email she sent to the band to WDBJ7: “You saved my parents’ lives, I will be forever grateful. Good luck with the rest of your tour and hope to see you on the road.”

Due to the damage to their home and dealing with the fallout of the crash, the McKee family were unable to attend the May 7 concert as intended.

In other news, Metallica have announced a new UK and European dates for their ongoing ‘M72’ tour for 2026. Next May, Metallica are due to hit the road for a string of huge stadium gigs in Athens, Bucharest, Chorzów, Frankfurt, Zurich, Berlin, Bologna and Budapest. Then, in June, they’ll return to the UK and Ireland for performances in Dublin, Glasgow and Cardiff, before playing two nights at the London Stadium on July 3 and 5.

Opening sets on the 2026 UK and European ‘M72’ tour will come from Gojira, Pantera, Knocked Loose and Avatar. Two-night tickets for the ‘No Repeat Weekends’ and single-night tickets go on general sale at 10am BST this Friday (May 30). You’ll be able to buy yours here (UK and Ireland) and here (Europe).

In a four-star review of Metallica’s ‘M72’ tour opener in Amsterdam, NME wrote: “Metallica have always been a gateway band for heavy music, but there’s a renewed excitement around them now. Tonight’s surprising, ambitious and giddy gig matches that energy at every turn.

“[…] From the gorgeous ‘Nothing Else Matters’ through to the unifying ‘Seek & Destroy’, the majesty of heavy music is on full display throughout the gig as Metallica prove why they’re clearly still the greatest metal band around.”

Metallica are currently out on the 2025 North American leg of their ‘M72’ tour, which kicked off last month. In March, they announced an “immersive” new VR concert film, shot in Mexico City.

The post Virginia family say preparing for Metallica concert saved them from deadly truck crash appeared first on NME.