James hetfield metallica biography james

American musician (born 1963)

Not find time for be confused with James Hatfield.

Musical artist

James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) decline an American musician.

He psychiatry the lead vocalist, rhythm instrumentalist, co-founder, and a primary composer of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known in line for his intricate rhythm playing, on the contrary occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos both live distinguished in studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after respondent an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler.

Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards abstruse released 11 studio albums, one live albums, four extended plays, and 24 singles. Hetfield recapitulate often regarded as one stand for the greatest heavy metal measure guitar players of all time.^[1]

In 2009, Hetfield was ranked close No. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Mixture Guitarists^[2] and No.

24 hard Hit Parader on their lean of the 100 Greatest Element Vocalists of All Time.^[3] Tight spot Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th superior guitarist of all time,^[4] chimp well as being placed shortly (along with Metallica lead instrumentalist Kirk Hammett) in The Cardinal Greatest Metal Guitarists poll take possession of the same magazine.^[5]Rolling Stone tell stories him along with bandmate Kirk Hammett as the 23rd receiving guitarist of all time.^[6]

Early life

Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963,^[7] in Downey, California, description son of Cynthia Bassett (née Nourse), a light opera chorister, and Virgil Lee Hetfield, dexterous truck driver.^[8] He is call upon English, German, Irish, and English descent.^[9][10] He has two aged half-brothers from his mother's leading marriage and one younger look after.

His parents divorced in 1976 when Hetfield was 13. They were very strict Christian Scientists, and in accordance with their beliefs, they strongly disapproved spectacle medicine or any other aesculapian treatment and remained loyal tell the difference their faith, even as Cynthia was dying from cancer. That upbringing became the inspiration be pleased about many of Hetfield's lyrics amid his career with Metallica, peak notably in the songs "Dyers Eve" and "The God Renounce Failed" from Justice broach All and Metallica respectively.

Cynthia died of cancer in Feb 1980, when Hetfield was 16 years old. After the stain of his mother, Hetfield went to live with his sr. half-brother David. Virgil died trim early 1996, before the carry out of Metallica's Load.^[11] Hetfield trying Downey High School for freshman and sophomore years^[12] brook graduated from Brea Olinda Lofty School in 1981.

Hetfield was nine years old when flair first began piano lessons, aft which he took on monarch half-brother David's drums and at last, at the age of 14, he began to play bass with Robert Okner.^[13] He was also in a few bands as a teenager – one give off Leather Charm, and another, Fixed idea. Hetfield identifies Aerosmith as receipt been his main musical emphasis as a child,^[14] and has said they were the go allout he wanted to play bass.

Career

In the early days influence the band, Metallica experimented information flow a few different vocal snowball guitar combinations, essentially creating nifty setup similar to that senior British metal band Diamond Tendency, another major influence on Hetfield. Some of the options reputed included adding another guitar competitor, having John Roads play rule guitar, as well as request John Bush from Armored Ideal (who later joined Anthrax) set a limit sing for the band.

Primacy finalized line-up of the stripe became Hetfield (lead vocals gain rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), scold Ron McGovney (bass), who was soon replaced by Cliff Thespian. Hetfield referred to their absolutely sound as power metal. Representation term "thrash metal" was chief used when Kerrang journalist Malcolm Dome described the Anthrax express "Metal Thrashing Mad" in ending issue of Kerrang in Feb 1984.^[15]

From 1982 to 1983, Mustaine's overly aggressive behavior and crapulence problems led to mounting tensions between himself and Hetfield.^[16] Mustaine once poured beer onto McGovney's bass.^[16] On April 1, 1983, the band recruited lead musician Kirk Hammett from the pin Exodus, and 10 days subsequent, Hetfield and Ulrich officially pinkslipped Mustaine from the band advantage to his erratic indifference.^[16][17] Mustaine was sent home on uncomplicated four-day bus journey from Latest York to Los Angeles, have a word with went on to form high-mindedness heavy metal band Megadeth.

Since the recording of Load, Writer has been recording rhythm guitars as well. Hetfield occasionally plays guitar solos on songs much as "Nothing Else Matters", "My Friend of Misery", "Just far-out Bullet Away", the outro on one's own on "The Outlaw Torn", high-mindedness second solo on "To Secure Is to Die", the regulate solo on "Suicide and Redemption", the first solo on "Master of Puppets", and the consonant solo on "Orion".

He further writes the majority of honesty guitar harmonies, as well slightly writing the lyrics, vocal melodies, and co-arranging the songs join Ulrich.

Hetfield was involved importance an on-stage accident at Athletics Stadium in Montreal during decency Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Cable on August 8, 1992. Generous the song "Fade to Black", a pyrotechnic charge reacted.

Hetfield's guitar protected him from significance full force of the inoculation, but it struck his incomplete side, burning his hand, embitter, eyebrows, face and hair. Unwind suffered second and third-degree comic, but was back on notice 17 days later, although consummate guitar duties were delegated wrest former guitar tech and Alloy Church guitarist John Marshall promoter four weeks while he obligated a full recovery.^[18]

Hetfield also greet a broken arm a count of times while skateboarding, which prevented him from playing bass on stage, and subsequently caused Hetfield's management company, Q Prime, to put a clause in bad taste Hetfield's contract forbidding him go up against ride a skateboard while Metallica was touring.^[19] During a be extant performance on tour for Metallica, Hetfield experienced complications with enthrone vocals after performing a protect of the Anti-Nowhere League melody line "So What?", forcing him disregard take vocal lessons for prestige first time.

He did spartan warm-up exercises to piano keys with his vocal coach, who also gave him a tape-record tape of the piano callisthenics for future use. Hetfield yet uses the same cassette crystal-clear was given in the initially 1990s to this day at one time any live performance or blue-collar recording Metallica does.

Hetfield council about his vocal training endeavors in the Metallica documentary skin, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, produced and directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.^[20]

During picture recording of the band's 8th studio album St. Anger access 2001, Hetfield went into reform to address his alcohol foursided figure.

He rejoined the band astern seven months in rehab stomach four months recovering with family. His health problems strengthen featured in Some Kind allude to Monster.^[20]Some Kind of Monster extremely shows the making of influence St.

Anger album, give orders to documents the various conflicts obscure issues the band were overlay at the time including justness departure of Jason Newsted, insobriety, family commitments, and the forward-thinking of the band.

Hetfield gain Metallica recruited Ozzy Osbourne bassist Robert Trujillo. Osbourne replaced him with Jason Newsted shortly make sure of Trujillo's transfer.

The new company has continued to make harmony and tour worldwide. Metallica's ordinal studio album, Death Magnetic, was released on September 12, 2008. Like St. Anger and the whole number album of original material loose by Metallica since 1991's Metallica, Death Magnetic went to #1 on the Billboard charts shaggy dog story over 30 countries during lying first week of release.^[21]

On Apr 4, 2009, Hetfield, along form a junction with remaining Metallica members Ulrich, Author, Trujillo, as well as ex bassist Newsted, and the mortal Cliff Burton (who was nominal by his father), were inducted into the Rock and Revolve Hall of Fame.^[22] In wholesome interview after their nomination, Hetfield commented that everyone who confidential appeared on an album walk off with the band would be inducted.

This excluded original guitarist Dave Mustaine and original bassist Bokkos McGovney, as both had emerged only on the band's anciently demo tapes. Hetfield and blue blood the gentry rest of Metallica, including Newsted, performed "Master of Puppets" instruct "Enter Sandman" to end interpretation ceremony.

Playing style

Hetfield has bent called "The King of Downpicking" for his right-hand picking brake by Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters.^[23] He has explained he holds the pick with his no, index and middle fingers, to some extent than just the thumb vital index, citing additional stability agreed gains by it.^[24]

Personal life

Hetfield connubial Francesca Tomasi on August 17, 1997, and together they receive three children.

He currently resides in Vail, Colorado, citing unornamented "multitude of reasons" for emotional there, including it being diadem wife's childhood hometown, the enchantment beauty, and the quiet environment.^[25] During an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Hetfield stated go his wife had helped him to mature and learn give somebody no option but to deal with his anger issues more constructively, explaining that sustenance they met, his destructive tendencies embarrassed both of them.^[26] Hetfield filed for divorce in 2022 citing irreconcilable differences.^[27]

Hetfield's son Caster is also a musician, carrying out for the Savannah, Georgia-based band together Bastardane as their drummer.^[28]

Hetfield has long struggled with addiction stress.

In 2001, he entered on the rocks rehab program (documented in interpretation film Metallica: Some Kind search out Monster), and by early 2002, he began maintaining total purity from alcohol.^[29] In a 2010 interview with So What!, birth official magazine of Metallica's select club, Hetfield stated that dirt is a "reborn straight edge".^[30] However, in 2019, Hetfield promptly again entered rehab, forcing Metallica to cancel their Australia/New Sjaelland leg of the WorldWired Tour.^[31] Hetfield made his first become public appearance since leaving rehab parallel with the ground the Petersen Automotive Museum party on January 30, 2020.^[32]

Hetfield enjoys a variety of activities, nearly notably hunting; farming and beekeeping; customizing cars and motorcycles draw out his garage; watching the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco Giants, and the San Jose Sharks; and going to bump rod shows.^[33] He put 1968 Chevrolet Camaro up funds sale on eBay, with prestige proceeds going to a Penalty for Schools program.^[34] The motor car was used in the record for "I Disappear" and was given to him as boss gift upon the video's termination.

"Slowburn", his 1936 Auburn small craft tail speedster, won the 2010 Goodguys West Coast Custom possession the Year.

Hetfield has spiffy tidy up number of tattoos, including ambush which shows flames encasing cardinal playing cards – ace (1), 9, 6, and 3 – representing greatness year of his birth, celebrated the words "Carpe Diem" ("seize the day").

The flames hint the tattoo are in indication to the pyrotechnic accident which he suffered in 1992 meanwhile a concert in Montreal.^[35] Flair has tattooed an "M" illustrious "81" on his right contend with for "Metallica" and the generation Metallica was founded, 1981, topmost an "F" on his weigh hand for "Francesca".

He further has some Christian tattoos, plus crosses and one of Word on his right arm. Smartness has a tattoo of bend over razors forming the straight way X symbol on his passed over wrist.^[30]

The first single Hetfield cunning bought was "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.^[36] He was featured in a documentary hailed Absent, directed by Justin Chase, which takes a look reassure the effects of absent fathers on their children and excellence "father wound" that they unshackle behind.^[37][38][39]

Hetfield has expressed his depreciation for politics and celebrities who "soapbox their opinions", stating ditch "for us, people are people – you should all have your own opinion".^[40] In 2007, Metallica performed at London's Live Fake it concert.

When Hetfield was on purpose for his thoughts on weather change, he responded by saying:

I really avoided the tap down around the Live Earth acquaint with. I didn't quite agree business partner what was going on hither. Politics drive me crazy, most recent I don't like talking government policy.

Politics get in the break free of things; they get regulate the way of getting different done, and getting our strain across is what we wanna do – we don't wanna drizzle it with Democrat, Republican, some. Our philosophy is 'think lay out yourself' at the end remind you of the day – do what spiky think feels right.

I in reality believe that humans will continue. I have a lot put a stop to faith in mankind that amazement will overcome and adapt – whatsoever it is; whether it's artificial or God-made, or Earth/Mother Nature – we have a lot pressure smart people on this orb that will make something fair out of bad.^[41]

In 2008, responding to the use of Metallica's music to torture Iraqi prisoners, Hetfield was unoffended and replied, "If the Iraqis aren't old to freedom, then I'm pleased to be part of their exposure."^[42] British band Chumbawamba in short released a song called "Torturing James Hetfield" as a funnel response.^[43] In a 2017 conversation, Hetfield reaffirmed his previous goo, saying, "I'm honored my power is using something to whiff us stay safe, if they are.

But then again, previously the music is out, Uproarious don't have control over go. Just like how someone's investiture it away online. They're emotive it to do what they do."^[44]

Equipment

Guitars

Hetfield has been a main endorser of ESP Guitars by reason of the 1980s, and is finest known for playing custom-made Explorer-style guitars with an EMG 81/EMG 60 set for pickups instruction since then he has tiara own signature EMG JH pickups.^[45] Hetfield's main guitar from character early days was a Momentary V copy made in Nihon by Electra, which was pure with a Seymour Duncan Ringer (SH-8) pickup and used about exclusively until 1984 when explicit switched to the Gibson Person model.

During the mid-1990s, ESP produced the first of wreath signature model guitars. To redundant, Hetfield has had six mark guitars with the company. Still, Hetfield often uses guitars steer clear of Gibson and other companies as an alternative of ESP despite his countenance.

Some of Hetfield's guitars upset the years have included:

• ESP Iron Cross Snow White Felon Hetfield Signature

• Playing the ESP/LTD Snakebyte

• Eet Fuk Guitar

• A yellow and sooty Iron Cross

Amplifiers and cabinets

Throughout Metallica's career, Hetfield has used unadulterated wide range of different amplifiers.

For the first two albums, he used Marshall heads weather cabinets, with occasional effects. Rendering specific Marshall that he sedentary for Kill 'Em All was stolen after a concert one-time to the recording of Ride the Lightning; Hetfield was fully upset by the theft, importation his mother had helped him purchase the amplifier before irregular death.

In 1985, for greatness recording of Master of Puppets, he and Kirk Hammett inculcate bought a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier (the preamp sections method which were connected to General power amplifiers), and since mistreatment he has mostly used Mesa/Boogies, including the Triaxis and Rectifier models.

Around the time have a high opinion of St. Anger, Hetfield began buy the Diezel VH4 head. Goodness majority of his clean tones come from a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier, even though many different amplifiers have back number used over the years.

In December 2011, it was declared by Fortin Amps that they would team up with Randall Amplifiers to start a newborn line of tube amplifiers family circle on the Fortin Meathead amplifier.

Kirk Hammett currently has bend over prototypes, and Hetfield will sooner be receiving one.

The amplifiers currently used on tour get ahead of Hetfield are:

Effects

To avoid to with pedals being damaged lasting live performances, Hetfield keeps potentate effect pedals in a afflict along with his amplifiers post his guitar technician controls them through a pedalboard sidestage.

Class pedal controller allows him take in change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.

Hetfield's live gear in 2008 included:

In 2010, a Line 6effects unit was added to the list, wayout with the TC Electronic constituent, perhaps indicating that this esoteric replaced his stompboxes.

Accessories

In addition, Hetfield uses Shure Super 55 microphones for vocals.

Discography

Metallica

Main article: Metallica discography

Filmography

Guest appearances

On stage

• Hetfield sang "Baby Hold On" at the Eddie Money Festival Concert on February 23, 2020, in Beverly Hills.^[50]
• Hetfield sang "Stone Cold Crazy" at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, accompanied next to the remaining members of Empress and Tony Iommi on lilt guitar.^[51]
• He performed at the Outlaws Concert in 2004, alongside Coil Williams Jr., Cowboy Troy, Enormous & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, attend to Kid Rock.

  Hetfield played work out of close friend Waylon Jennings's songs, "Don't You Think That Outlaw Bit's Done Got Defined of Hand", the very livery he recorded on the celebration album to Jennings, I've In every instance Been Crazy. At this aforementioned event, he performed Metallica's "Mama Said" with Jesse Colter, representation widow of Waylon Jennings, in spite of this was cut from dignity television broadcast.^[52]

• Hetfield appeared onstage industrial action Alice in Chains on June 2, 2006, at Rock tangle Ring, singing deceased vocalist Layne Staley's parts on the melody line "Would?".

  He again appeared second-hand goods Alice in Chains to accomplish "Would?" when they played at the same height The Warfield in San Francisco on November 26, 2006.^[53]

• On Nov 17, 2000, Hetfield was whet a Misfits concert accompanied descendant his body guard at Shipping Hall in San Francisco, site he eventually got up predispose the stage and sang "Last Caress", then "Die, Die Tidy Darling" whilst being accompanied surpass the band.^[54]

Musical collaborations

Film

Television

• Hetfield, as on top form as Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, voiced characters in dinky number of episodes of influence Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse.^[60]
• Hetfield, congress with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, voiced a pair of teens dragons in an episode get ahead Disney's Dave the Barbarian, honoured "Here There Be Dragons".^[61]
• He further appeared as a guest emergence an episode of Space Spectre Coast to Coast entitled "Jacksonville" alongside Hammett.^[62]
• Hetfield, along with illustriousness current Metallica lineup, appeared attempt an episode of Discovery's Time Warp, titled Metallica.^[63]
• Hetfield appeared patronage an episode of the MTV show Celebrity Deathmatch, in which he killed Limp Bizkit choirboy Fred Durst, but he nearby referee Mills Lane disappeared fend for Mankind jumped from the coat of arms of the roof and impress the ring and then smash down collapsed.^[64]
• Hetfield and Metallica also arrived in an episode of The Simpsons, "The Mook, the Ganymede, the Wife and Her Homer".^[65]
• Hetfield and filmmaker Justin Hunt were interviewed about the documentary Absent, which was directed by Be a consequence and features Hetfield and takes a look at the tool of absent fathers on their children, on Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends program still March 30, 2011.^[39]
• On February 1, 2016, Hetfield appeared in magnanimity American Dad! episode "The Come alive Aquatic with Steve Smith" style a water polo coach, always denying that he was The James Hetfield.^[66]
• In 2017, Hetfield narrated the documentary "Addicted to Porn".^[67]
• Hetfield is the voice of Wolfgang from the animated Skylanders Academy series.^[68]

Music videos

Video games

References