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James Hetfield

American guitarist and singer · United States · On the map · Musicians · Born 1963 · age 63

James Alan Hetfield is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder, and a primary songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica. 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.

James Hetfield is read about 4,642 times a day, in 77 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2006“Dying, dying, someone told me just recently, dying is easy. Living is hard. for everyone.”In their words14 May 2006MusiCares

2003“All the drinking and all the other junk that I was stuck in... It was so predictable. So boring.”In their wordsSome Kind of Monster, 2003 - Talking about his addictions and big changes.

2001“Are you saying it's too loud? It's got to be loud. You're supposed to feel it all over.”In their wordsApril 2001Playboy, April 2001

“I like playing music because it's a good living and I get satisfaction from it. But I can't feed my family with satisfaction.”In their wordsApril 2001Playboy, April 2001

“Lars would talk his way into their pants. Kirk had a babyface that was appealing to the girls. And Cliff; he had a big dick. Word got around about that, I guess.”In their wordsApril 2001Playboy April 2001.

1963Born3 August 1963

People around James

Also in Deutsch Français

Media & music

In their own words 3

,
James Hetfield
,
3 statements, newest first

  1. If I hadn't have had music in my life, it's quite possible I could be in here. Or nor even in here, be dead - and I'd much rather be alive.

    at St Quentin, during the videoshoot for St Anger, Own words

  2. Everybody is born good and everybody has got the same size soul. We're here to connect with that.

    at St Quentin during the videoshoot for St Anger, Own words

  3. It had to be something real bad. I think he stole music online.

    Asked what the narrator in "Ride The Lightning" did to earn the death penalty, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

About this person

Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won 10 Grammy Awards and released 11 studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays, and 24 singles. Hetfield is often regarded as one of the greatest rhythm guitar players of all time.

Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1963 · age 63

Where to find them

Instagrampapa_het_IMDbWebsitemetallica.com

In the same film or series as James

Ginger LynnAlso in Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 (2006)Bootsy CollinsAlso in 'Tallica Parking Lot (2014)Charlie BenanteAlso in The Big Four: Live in Sofia (2010)Kaya ScodelarioAlso in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019)Peter DinklageAlso in The Thicket (2024)