Metallica has donated £20,000 to Cardiff Foodbank, marking the charity's largest celebrity donation. The Grammy-winning band made the contribution through their foundation, All Within My Hands, after performing at Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday evening as part of their latest tour.
Donation to replenish empty shelves
Two weeks prior to the concert, the foodbank had issued an urgent appeal for donations, stating they had never seen their warehouse 'so empty' and were 'very worried' for the people they support. Rachel Biggs, CEO of Cardiff Foodbank, recounted receiving an email from the band's foundation: 'We had an email saying "This isn't a scam, please get in touch with the foundation". They said "We are going to donate £20,000 to you". It's an incredible amount of money which will make such a difference and replenish our empty shelves.'
The £20,000 donation equates to approximately 9,000 meals, helping to support the 20,000 people who use the foodbank each year across eight centres in the city. Biggs noted that while the charity had previously received a donation from Taylor Swift during her Eras Tour in 2024, that amount was not disclosed, making Metallica's contribution the largest known celebrity donation.
Demand high, donations down
Biggs estimated the charity's annual running costs at around £700,000, with demand remaining high but food donations dropping by 27%. 'The number of people needing us is the same as last year, but our food donations have dropped by 27% and we've seen that reflected in the empty shelves,' she said. 'When this donation arrives in our bank account we'll be able to put in a bulk order and replenish stock and knowing the rest of the year we'll have the support of the community.' She added that the cost of living crisis affects both the charity's operating costs and donors' ability to give.
Fan and volunteer reaction
Eddie Cawston, a foodbank volunteer and Metallica fan who attended the opening night concert, praised the band's generosity. 'It shows that people who can make a difference are prepared to make a difference,' he said. 'They'll make a phenomenal amount of money from the tour and they're giving to us and other foodbanks as the tour goes along. It's brilliant.'
Metallica's charitable foundation
Metallica launched All Within My Hands in 2017, with the aim of allocating a portion of ticket sales to various charities and food banks worldwide. In addition to the financial donation, the band is collaborating with the Welsh Blood Service to encourage fans to donate blood and plasma during their stay in Wales, with concerts scheduled until July 3.
