James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder, and a primary songwriter ofheavy metal bandMetallica. He is mainly known for his raspy voice and intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos both live and in studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummerLars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaperThe Recycler. Metallica has won tenGrammy Awards[1] and released 11 studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays, and 24 singles. Hetfield is often regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal rhythm guitar players of all time.[2]
In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at No. 8 inJoel McIver's bookThe 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists[3] and No. 24 byHit Parader on their list of the100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time.[4] InGuitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time,[5] as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitaristKirk Hammett) inThe 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine.[6]Rolling Stone placed him along with bandmate Kirk Hammett as the 23rd greatest guitarist of all time.[7]
Early life
Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963,[8] inDowney, California, the son of Cynthia Bassett (née Nourse), alight opera singer, and Virgil Lee Hetfield, a truck driver.[9] He is of English, German, Irish, and Scottish descent.[10][11] He has two older half-brothers from his mother's first marriage and one younger sister. His parents divorced in 1976 when Hetfield was 13. They were strictChristian Scientists, and in accordance with their beliefs, they strongly disapproved of medicine or any other medical treatment and remained loyal to their faith, even as Cynthia was dying from cancer. This upbringing became the inspiration for many of Hetfield's lyrics during his career with Metallica, most notably in the songs "Dyers Eve" and "The God That Failed" from...And Justice for All andMetallica respectively. Cynthia died of cancer in February 1980, when Hetfield was 16 years old. After the death of his mother, Hetfield went to live with his older half-brother David. Virgil died in early 1996, before the release of Metallica'sLoad.[12] Hetfield attendedDowney High School for his freshman and sophomore years[13] and graduated fromBrea Olinda High School in 1981.
Hetfield was nine years old when he first began piano lessons, after which he took on his half-brother David's drums and finally, at the age of 14, he began to play guitar with Robert Okner.[14] He was also in a few bands as a teenager – one beingLeather Charm, and another, Obsession. Hetfield identifiesAerosmith as having been his main musical influence as a child,[15] and has said they were the reason he wanted to play guitar.
Career
Hetfield in 2008
In the early days of the band, Metallica experimented with a few different vocal and guitar combinations, essentially creating a setup similar to that of British metal bandDiamond Head, another major influence on Hetfield. Some of the options considered included adding another guitar player, having John Roads play lead guitar, as well as askingJohn Bush fromArmored Saint (who later joinedAnthrax) to sing for the band. The finalized line-up of the band became Hetfield (lead vocals and rhythm guitar),Lars Ulrich (drums),Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), andRon McGovney (bass), who was soon replaced byCliff Burton. Hetfield referred to their early sound aspower metal. The term "thrash metal" was first used whenKerrang journalistMalcolm Dome described the Anthrax song "Metal Thrashing Mad" in an issue ofKerrang in February 1984.[16]
From 1982 to 1983, Mustaine's aggressive behavior anddrinking problems led to mounting tensions between himself and Hetfield.[17] Mustaine once poured beer onto McGovney's bass.[17] On April 1, 1983, the band recruited lead guitaristKirk Hammett from the bandExodus, and 10 days later, Hetfield and Ulrich officially fired Mustaine from the band due to his erratic indifference.[17][18] Mustaine was sent home on a four-day bus journey from New York to Los Angeles, and went on to form theheavy metal bandMegadeth.
Since the recording ofLoad, Hammett has been recording rhythm guitars as well. Hetfield occasionally plays guitar solos on songs such as "Nothing Else Matters", "My Friend of Misery", "Just a Bullet Away", the outro solo on "The Outlaw Torn", the second solo on "To Live Is to Die", the first solo on "Suicide and Redemption", the first solo on "Master of Puppets", and the harmonized solo on "Orion". He also writes the majority of the guitar harmonies, as well as writing the lyrics, vocal melodies, and co-arranging the songs with Ulrich.
Hetfield was involved in an on-stage accident atOlympic Stadium in Montreal during theGuns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour on August 8, 1992. During the song "Fade to Black", a pyrotechnic charge reacted. Hetfield's guitar protected him from the full force of the blast, but it struck his left side, burning his hand, arm, eyebrows, face and hair. He suffered second and third-degree burns, but was back on stage 17 days later, although his guitar duties were delegated to former guitar tech andMetal Church guitaristJohn Marshall for four weeks while he made a full recovery.[19]
Hetfield also suffered a broken arm a number of times while skateboarding, which prevented him from playing guitar on stage, and subsequently caused Hetfield's management company,Q Prime, to put a clause in Hetfield's contract forbidding him to ride a skateboard while Metallica was touring.[20] During a live performance on tour forMetallica, Hetfield experienced complications with his vocals after performing a cover of theAnti-Nowhere League song "So What?", forcing him to take vocal lessons for the first time. He did basic warm-up exercises to piano keys with his vocal coach, who also gave him a cassette tape of the piano warm-up for future use. Hetfield still uses the same cassette he was given in the early 1990s to this day before any live performance or any recording Metallica does. Hetfield talks about his vocal training endeavors in the Metallica documentary film,Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, produced and directed byJoe Berlinger andBruce Sinofsky.[21]
During the recording of the band's eighth studio albumSt. Anger in 2001, Hetfield went intorehab to address his alcohol usage. He rejoined the band after seven months in rehab and four months recovering with his family. His health problems are featured inSome Kind of Monster.[21]Some Kind of Monster also shows the making of theSt. Anger album, and documents the various conflicts and issues the band were facing at the time including the departure ofJason Newsted, alcoholism, family commitments, and the future of the band.
Hetfield and Metallica recruitedOzzy Osbourne bassistRobert Trujillo. Osbourne replaced him with Jason Newsted shortly after Trujillo's transfer. The new line-up has continued to make music and tour worldwide. Metallica's ninth studio album,Death Magnetic, was released on September 12, 2008. LikeSt. Anger and every album of original material released by Metallica since 1991'sMetallica,Death Magnetic went to #1 on the Billboard charts in over 30 countries during its first week of release.[22]
On April 4, 2009, Hetfield, along with remaining Metallica members Ulrich, Hammett, Trujillo, as well as former bassist Newsted, and the deceased Cliff Burton (who was represented by his father), were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.[23] In an interview after their nomination, Hetfield commented that everyone who had appeared on an album with the band would be inducted. This excluded original guitaristDave Mustaine and original bassistRon McGovney, as both had appeared only on the band's early demo tapes. Hetfield and the rest of Metallica, including Newsted, performed "Master of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman" to end the ceremony.
Playing style
Hetfield has been called "The King ofDownpicking" for his right-hand picking speed byAnnihilator guitaristJeff Waters.[24] He has explained he holds the pick with his thumb, index and middle fingers, rather than just the thumb and index, citing additional stability he gains by it.[25]
Hetfield married Francesca Tomasi on August 17, 1997, and together they have three children. He currently resides inVail, Colorado, citing a "multitude of reasons" for moving there, including it being his ex-wife's childhood hometown, the natural beauty, and the quiet environment.[26] During an interview onNPR'sFresh Air, Hetfield stated that his ex-wife had helped him to mature and learn to deal with his anger issues more constructively, explaining that after they met, his destructive tendencies embarrassed both of them.[27] Hetfield filed for divorce in 2022 citing irreconcilable differences.[28] He is currently in a relationship with Adriana Gillet.[29]
Hetfield's son Castor is also a musician, playing for theSavannah, Georgia-based band Bastardane as their drummer.[30]
Hetfield has struggled withsubstance abuse andaddiction at various points throughout his life. In 2001, he entered arehab program (documented in the filmMetallica: Some Kind of Monster), and by early 2002, he began maintaining totalabstinence from alcohol.[31] In a 2010 interview withSo What!, the official magazine of Metallica's fan club, Hetfield stated that he is a "rebornstraight edge".[32] However, in 2019, Hetfield once again entered rehab, forcing Metallica to cancel their Australia/New Zealand leg of theWorldWired Tour.[33] Hetfield made his first public appearance since leaving rehab at thePetersen Automotive Museum reception on January 30, 2020.[34]
Hetfield has a number oftattoos, including one which shows flames encasing four playing cards – ace (1), 9, 6, and 3 – representing the year of his birth, and the words "Carpe Diem" ("seize the day"). The flames on the tattoo are in reference to the pyrotechnic accident which he suffered in 1992 during a concert inMontreal.[37] He has tattooed an "M" and "81" on his right hand for "Metallica" and the year Metallica was founded, 1981, and an "F" on his left hand for "Francesca", which has since been turned into "Forgiven". He also has some Christian tattoos, includingcrosses and one ofJesus on his right arm. He has a tattoo of two razors forming thestraight edge X symbol on his left wrist.[32]
The first single Hetfield ever bought was "Sweet Home Alabama" byLynyrd Skynyrd.[38] He was featured in a documentary calledAbsent, directed byJustin Hunt, which takes a look at the effects of absent fathers on their children and the "father wound" that they leave behind.[39][40][41]
Hetfield has expressed hisdisdain for politics and celebrities who "soapbox their opinions", stating that "for us, people are people – you should all have your own opinion".[42] In 2007, Metallica performed at London'sLive Earth concert. When Hetfield was asked for his thoughts onclimate change, he responded by saying:
I really avoided the press around the Live Earth day. I didn't quite agree with what was going on there. Politics drive me crazy, and I don't like talking politics. Politics get in the way of things; they get in the way of getting things done, and getting our music across is what we wanna do – we don't wanna cloud it with Democrat, Republican, whatever. Our philosophy is 'think for yourself' at the end of the day – do what you think feels right. I really believe that humans will survive. I have a lot of faith in mankind that we will overcome and adapt – whatever it is; whether it's man-made or God-made, or Earth/Mother Nature – we have a lot of smart people on this planet that will make something good out of bad.[43]
In 2008, responding to the use of Metallica's music to torture Iraqi prisoners, Hetfield was unoffended and replied, "If the Iraqis aren't used to freedom, then I'm glad to be part of their exposure."[44] British bandChumbawamba subsequently released a song called "Torturing James Hetfield" in response.[45] In a 2017 interview, Hetfield reaffirmed his previous stance, saying, "I'm honored my country is using something to help us stay safe, if they are. But then again, once the music is out, I don't have control over that. Just like how someone's giving it away online. They're using it to do what they do."[46]
Equipment
Guitars
Hetfield has been a major endorser ofESP Guitars since the 1980s, and is best known for playing custom-madeExplorer-style guitars with anEMG 81/EMG 60 set forpickups and since then he has his own signature EMG JH pickups.[47] Hetfield's main guitar from the early days was aFlying V copy made in Japan by Electra, which was modified with aSeymour Duncan Invader (SH-8) pickup and used almost exclusively until 1984 when he switched to theGibson Explorer model.
During the mid-1990s,ESP produced the first of hissignature model guitars. To date, Hetfield has had six signature guitars with the company. However, Hetfield often uses guitars fromGibson and other companies instead of ESP despite his endorsement.
Some of Hetfield's guitars over the years have included:
ESP Iron Cross Snow White James Hetfield Signature
Playing the ESP/LTD Snakebyte
Eet Fuk Guitar
A yellow and black Iron Cross
Amplifiers and cabinets
Throughout Metallica's career, Hetfield has used a wide range ofamplifiers. For the first two albums, he usedMarshall heads and cabinets, with occasional effects. The specific Marshall that he used forKill 'Em All was stolen after a concert prior to the recording ofRide the Lightning; Hetfield was upset by the theft, as his mother had helped him purchase the amplifier before her death. In 1985, for the recording ofMaster of Puppets, he andKirk Hammett each bought aMesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier (the preamp sections of which were connected to Marshall power amplifiers), and since then he has mostly used Mesa/Boogies, including the Triaxis and Rectifier models. Around the time ofSt. Anger, Hetfield began using theDiezel VH4 head. The majority of his clean tones come from aRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier, although many different amplifiers have been used over the years.
In December 2011, it was announced by Fortin Amps that they would team up withRandall Amplifiers to start a new line of tube amplifiers based on the Fortin Meathead amplifier.Kirk Hammett currently has two prototypes, and Hetfield will eventually be receiving one.
The amplifiers currently used on tour by Hetfield are:
To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Hetfield keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his guitar technician controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.
Hetfield appeared onstage withAlice in Chains on June 2, 2006, atRock am Ring, singing deceased vocalistLayne Staley's parts on the song "Would?". He again appeared with Alice in Chains to perform "Would?" when they played atThe Warfield in San Francisco on November 26, 2006.[63]
On November 17, 2000, Hetfield was at aMisfits concert accompanied by his body guard atMaritime Hall in San Francisco, where he eventually got up on the stage and sang "Last Caress", then "Die, Die My Darling" whilst being accompanied by the band.[64]
Hetfield sang backing vocals on "Twist of Cain" and "Possession" onDanzig's debut albumDanzig.[65]
Hetfield played guitar on "Eclectic Electric" from thePrimus albumAntipop.[65]
Hetfield performed guest vocals on "Drivin' Rain" on theGov't Mule albumThe Deep End, Volume 2 and on the soundtrackNASCAR on Fox: Crank It Up (2002).[66]
Hetfield performed guest vocals on theHeart song "Beautiful Broken" from theiralbum of the same name which was released on July 8, 2016.[67]
Film
Though previously believed to have been sung byTrey Parker, the song "Hell Isn't Good" from the filmSouth Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut was actually sung by Hetfield. He admitted to doing so in 2000, confirming what many Hetfield fans had already recognized as his trademark growling style.[68]
^Smith, Clive Stafford (June 18, 2008)."Welcome to 'the disco'".The Guardian. RetrievedJuly 31, 2024.
^"Chumbawamba".Spiral Earth. February 22, 2010. Archived fromthe original on March 7, 2010. RetrievedDecember 9, 2016.... James Hetfield comes out and says he's proud their music has been used to torture Guantanamo prisoners. 'It represents something that they don't like—maybe freedom, aggression ... I don't know ... Freedom of speech.' Although he thinks music and politics don't mix – obviously. So writing a song about torturing James Hetfield with Chumbawamba's music was irresistible.
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