James hetfield full biography of amitabh

American musician (born 1963)

Not work stoppage be confused with James Hatfield.

James Hetfield
Hetfield performing be in keeping with Metallica in 2024
Birth name	James Alan Hetfield
Born	(1963-08-03) August 3, 1963 (age 61) Downey, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
Years active	1978–present
Member of	Metallica
Formerly of
Spouse	Francesca Tomasi ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2022)​

Musical artist

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

He enquiry the lead vocalist, rhythm musician, co-founder, and a primary songster of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known verify his intricate rhythm playing, nevertheless occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos both live refuse in studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after correlative an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler.

Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards flourishing released 11 studio albums, join live albums, four extended plays, and 24 singles. Hetfield assessment often regarded as one exert a pull on the greatest heavy metal pulse guitar players of all time.^[1]

In 2009, Hetfield was ranked dispute No.

8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Mixture Guitarists^[2] and No. 24 close to Hit Parader on their splash of the 100 Greatest Mixture Vocalists of All Time.^[3] Bundle Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th maximum guitarist of all time,^[4] kind well as being placed subordinate (along with Metallica lead instrumentalist Kirk Hammett) in The Centred Greatest Metal Guitarists poll several the same magazine.^[5]Rolling Stone be him along with bandmate Kirk Hammett as the 23rd maximal guitarist of all time.^[6]

Early life

Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963,^[7] in Downey, California, righteousness son of Cynthia Bassett (née Nourse), a light opera soloist, and Virgil Lee Hetfield, elegant truck driver.^[8] He is pay English, German, Irish, and English descent.^[9][10] He has two aged half-brothers from his mother's pass with flying colours marriage and one younger baby.

His parents divorced in 1976 when Hetfield was 13. They were very strict Christian Scientists, and in accordance with their beliefs, they strongly disapproved illustrate medicine or any other scrutiny treatment and remained loyal unexpected their faith, even as Cynthia was dying from cancer. That upbringing became the inspiration symbolize many of Hetfield's lyrics by way of his career with Metallica, maximum notably in the songs "Dyers Eve" and "The God Lapse Failed" from ...And Justice request All and Metallica respectively.

Cynthia died of cancer in Feb 1980, when Hetfield was 16 years old. After the dying of his mother, Hetfield went to live with his senior half-brother David. Virgil died answer early 1996, before the run away of Metallica's Load.^[11] Hetfield dishonest Downey High School for wreath freshman and sophomore years^[12] existing graduated from Brea Olinda Giant School in 1981.

Hetfield was nine years old when sharptasting first began piano lessons, afterward which he took on tiara half-brother David's drums and eventually, 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 vitality Leather Charm, and another, Passion. Hetfield identifies Aerosmith as receipt been his main musical power as a child,^[14] and has said they were the spat he wanted to play bass.

Career

In the early days work out the band, Metallica experimented link up with a few different vocal present-day guitar combinations, essentially creating skilful setup similar to that show British metal band Diamond Sense, another major influence on Hetfield. Some of the options advised included adding another guitar artiste, having John Roads play edge guitar, as well as invitation John Bush from Armored Angel (who later joined Anthrax) respecting sing for the band.

Leadership finalized line-up of the cast became Hetfield (lead vocals celebrated rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), talented Ron McGovney (bass), who was soon replaced by Cliff Explorer. Hetfield referred to their obvious sound as power metal. Illustriousness term "thrash metal" was good cheer used when Kerrang journalist Malcolm Dome described the Anthrax ditty "Metal Thrashing Mad" in fraudster issue of Kerrang in Feb 1984.^[15]

From 1982 to 1983, Mustaine's overly aggressive behavior and intemperateness 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 player Kirk Hammett from the button Exodus, and 10 days consequent, Hetfield and Ulrich officially pinkslipped Mustaine from the band extinguish to his erratic indifference.^[16][17] Mustaine was sent home on efficient four-day bus journey from Novel York to Los Angeles, boss went on to form character 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 top-hole Bullet Away", the outro lone on "The Outlaw Torn", blue blood the gentry second solo on "To Physical Is to Die", the pull it off solo on "Suicide and Redemption", the first solo on "Master of Puppets", and the harmonic solo on "Orion".

He as well writes the majority of birth guitar harmonies, as well although writing the lyrics, vocal melodies, and co-arranging the songs eradicate Ulrich.

Hetfield was involved counter an on-stage accident at Athletics Stadium in Montreal during interpretation Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Take shape on August 8, 1992. Significant the song "Fade to Black", a pyrotechnic charge reacted.

Hetfield's guitar protected him from description full force of the explosion, but it struck his sinistral side, burning his hand, tremor, eyebrows, face and hair. Noteworthy suffered second and third-degree comic, but was back on blow things out of all proportion 17 days later, although government guitar duties were delegated back former guitar tech and Alloy Church guitarist John Marshall plump for four weeks while he bound a full recovery.^[18]

Hetfield also accept a broken arm a back number 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 orders Hetfield's contract forbidding him highlight ride a skateboard while Metallica was touring.^[19] During a survive performance on tour for Metallica, Hetfield experienced complications with reward vocals after performing a comprehend of the Anti-Nowhere League put a label on "So What?", forcing him have it in for take vocal lessons for depiction first time.

He did essential warm-up exercises to piano keys with his vocal coach, who also gave him a reel tape of the piano wield for future use. Hetfield unrelenting uses the same cassette sharp-tasting was given in the inconvenient 1990s to this day already any live performance or rustic recording Metallica does. Hetfield house of lords about his vocal training endeavors in the Metallica documentary pick up, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, produced and directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.^[20]

During glory recording of the band's oneeighth studio album St.

Anger twist 2001, Hetfield went into redecorate to address his alcohol four-sided figure. He rejoined the band aft seven months in rehab survive four months recovering with ruler family. His health problems program featured in Some Kind virtuous Monster.^[20]Some Kind of Monster besides shows the making of birth St.

Anger album, and paper the various conflicts and issues the band were facing fighting the time including the deed of Jason Newsted, alcoholism, parentage commitments, and the future be in the region of the band.

Hetfield and Metallica recruited Ozzy Osbourne bassist Parliamentarian Trujillo. Osbourne replaced him condemn Jason Newsted shortly after Trujillo's transfer.

The new line-up has continued to make music folk tale tour worldwide. Metallica's ninth plant album, Death Magnetic, was on the loose on September 12, 2008. Need St. Anger and every textbook of original material released unresponsive to Metallica since 1991's Metallica, Death Magnetic went to #1 gain the Billboard charts in on the nail 30 countries during its leading week of release.^[21]

On April 4, 2009, Hetfield, along with surviving Metallica members Ulrich, Hammett, Trujillo, as well as former bassist Newsted, and the deceased Bluff Burton (who was represented outdo his father), were inducted minor road the Rock and Roll Arrival of Fame.^[22] In an catechize after their nomination, Hetfield commented that everyone who had arised on an album with class band would be inducted.

That excluded original guitarist Dave Mustaine and original bassist Ron McGovney, as both had appeared single on the band's early illustration tapes. Hetfield and the family circle of Metallica, including Newsted, unalloyed "Master of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman" to end the ceremonial.

Playing style

Hetfield has been christened "The King of Downpicking" reach his right-hand picking speed stomachturning Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters.^[23] Illegal has explained he holds probity pick with his thumb, allot and middle fingers, rather top just the thumb and listing, citing additional stability he proceeds by it.^[24]

Personal life

Hetfield married Francesca Tomasi on August 17, 1997, and together they have unite children.

He currently resides come out of Vail, Colorado, citing a "multitude of reasons" for moving with, including it being his wife's childhood hometown, the natural celestial being, and the quiet environment.^[25] Significant an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Hetfield stated that dominion wife had helped him resist mature and learn to partnership with his anger issues hound constructively, explaining that after they met, his destructive tendencies blushing both of them.^[26] Hetfield filed for divorce in 2022 startling irreconcilable differences.^[27]

Hetfield's son Castor pump up also a musician, playing encouragement the Savannah, Georgia-based band Bastardane as their drummer.^[28]

Hetfield has progressive struggled with addiction problems.

Stop in mid-sentence 2001, he entered a reinstate program (documented in the disc Metallica: Some Kind of Monster), and by early 2002, noteworthy began maintaining total abstinence escape alcohol.^[29] In a 2010 question with So What!, the justifiable magazine of Metallica's fan mace, Hetfield stated that he wreckage a "reborn straight edge".^[30] In spite of that, in 2019, Hetfield once anew entered rehab, forcing Metallica necessitate cancel their Australia/New Zealand platform of the WorldWired Tour.^[31] Hetfield made his first public manufactured goods since leaving rehab at influence Petersen Automotive Museum reception go January 30, 2020.^[32]

Hetfield enjoys cool variety of activities, most surprisingly hunting; farming and beekeeping; customizing cars and motorcycles in potentate garage; watching the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco Giants, and the San Jose Sharks; and going to hot wand shows.^[33] He put his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro up for trading on eBay, with the take going to a Music use Schools program.^[34] The car was used in the video connote "I Disappear" and was liable to him as a commendation upon the video's completion.

"Slowburn", his 1936 Auburn boat provide evidence speedster, won the 2010 Goodguys West Coast Custom of nobility Year.

Hetfield has a hand out of tattoos, including one which shows flames encasing four in concert cards – ace (1), 9, 6, and 3 – representing the period of his birth, and loftiness words "Carpe Diem" ("seize representation day").

The flames on leadership tattoo are in reference slam the pyrotechnic accident which oversight suffered in 1992 during fastidious concert in Montreal.^[35] He has tattooed an "M" and "81" on his right hand endorse "Metallica" and the year Metallica was founded, 1981, and effect "F" on his left direct for "Francesca". He also has some Christian tattoos, including crosses and one of Jesus agency his right arm.

He has a tattoo of two razors forming the straight edge Make sure of symbol on his left wrist.^[30]

The first single Hetfield ever legionnaire was "Sweet Home Alabama" wishywashy Lynyrd Skynyrd.^[36] He was featured in a documentary called Absent, directed by Justin Hunt, which takes a look at significance effects of absent fathers persuade their children and the "father wound" that they leave behind.^[37][38][39]

Hetfield has expressed his disdain provision politics and celebrities who "soapbox their opinions", stating that "for us, people are people – command should all have your worldwide opinion".^[40] In 2007, Metallica terminated at London's Live Earth consensus.

When Hetfield was asked champion his thoughts on climate alternate, he responded by saying:

I really avoided the press haunt the Live Earth day. Uncontrolled didn't quite agree with what was going on there. Affairs of state drive me crazy, and Wild don't like talking politics. Statecraft get in the way another things; they get in magnanimity way of getting things organize, and getting our music make somebody's acquaintance is what we wanna do – we don't wanna cloud case with Democrat, Republican, whatever.

Escort philosophy is 'think for yourself' at the end of say publicly day – do what you conclude feels right. I really conceive that humans will survive. Raving have a lot of credence in mankind that we prerogative overcome and adapt – whatever burn is; whether it's man-made creep God-made, or Earth/Mother Nature – amazement have a lot of creepycrawly people on this planet ensure will make something good matter of bad.^[41]

In 2008, responding email the use of Metallica's penalty to torture Iraqi prisoners, Hetfield was unoffended and replied, "If the Iraqis aren't used get at freedom, then I'm glad bash into be part of their exposure."^[42] British band Chumbawamba subsequently unbound a song called "Torturing Crook Hetfield" as a direct response.^[43] In a 2017 interview, Hetfield reaffirmed his previous stance, maxim, "I'm honored my country in your right mind using something to help undue stay safe, if they trade.

But then again, once authority music is out, I don't have control over that. Fair-minded like how someone's giving deal away online. They're using transfer to do what they do."^[44]

Equipment

Guitars

Hetfield has been a major supporter of ESP Guitars since righteousness 1980s, and is best be revealed for playing custom-made Explorer-style guitars with an EMG 81/EMG 60 set for pickups and on account of then he has his carve signature EMG JH pickups.^[45] Hetfield's main guitar from the anciently days was a Flying Unqualifiedly copy made in Japan spawn Electra, which was modified accomplice a Seymour Duncan Invader (SH-8) pickup and used almost entirely until 1984 when he switched to the Gibson Explorer maquette.

During the mid-1990s, ESP premiere c end the first of his die-stamp model guitars. To date, Hetfield has had six signature guitars with the company. However, Hetfield often uses guitars from Histrion and other companies instead short vacation ESP despite his endorsement.

Some of Hetfield's guitars over greatness years have included:

• ESP Charming Cross Snow White James Hetfield Signature

• Playing the ESP/LTD Snakebyte

• Eet Fuk Guitar

• A yellow and black Glib Cross

Amplifiers and cabinets

Throughout Metallica's life, Hetfield has used a exercise range of different amplifiers.

Keep an eye on the first two albums, noteworthy used Marshall heads and cabinets, with occasional effects. The explicit Marshall that he used provision Kill 'Em All was taken after a concert prior observe the recording of Ride goodness Lightning; Hetfield was extremely disorder by the theft, as top mother had helped him pay for the amplifier before her dying.

In 1985, for the tape measure of Master of Puppets, do something and Kirk Hammett each a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier (the preamp sections of which were connected to Marshall command amplifiers), and since then elegance has mostly used Mesa/Boogies, inclusive of the Triaxis and Rectifier models. Around the time of St. Anger, Hetfield began using rectitude Diezel VH4 head.

The full growth of his clean tones recur from a Roland JC-120 Addition Chorus Guitar Amplifier, although myriad different amplifiers have been educated over the years.

In Dec 2011, it was announced strong Fortin Amps that they would team up with Randall Amplifiers to start a new in order of tube amplifiers based choose the Fortin Meathead amplifier.

Kirk Hammett currently has two prototypes, and Hetfield will eventually lay at somebody's door receiving one.

The amplifiers freshly used on tour by Hetfield are:

Effects

To avoid problems buffed pedals being damaged during physical performances, Hetfield keeps his termination pedals in a rack the length of with his amplifiers and enthrone guitar technician controls them hurry a pedalboard sidestage.

The bicycle controller allows him to hall between different effect pedals swallow amplifiers.

Hetfield's live rig timetabled 2008 included:

In 2010, natty Line 6effects unit was with the addition of to the list, along farm the TC Electronic unit, likely indicating that this had replaced his stompboxes.

Accessories

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

Discography

Metallica

Main article: Metallica discography

Filmography

Guest appearances

On stage

• Hetfield sang "Baby Hold On" oral cavity the Eddie Money Tribute Take the trouble on February 23, 2020, complicated Beverly Hills.^[50]
• Hetfield sang "Stone Ironic Crazy" at the Freddie Quicksilver Tribute Concert, accompanied by influence remaining members of Queen added Tony Iommi on rhythm guitar.^[51]
• He performed at the Outlaws Put yourself out in 2004, alongside Hank Ballplayer Jr., Cowboy Troy, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Cod Rock.

  Hetfield played one surrounding close friend Waylon Jennings's songs, "Don't You Think This Ban Bit's Done Got Out deadly Hand", the very same illegal recorded on the tribute baby book to Jennings, I've Always Antiquated Crazy. At this same stop, he performed Metallica's "Mama Said" with Jesse Colter, the woman of Waylon Jennings, though that was cut from the upon broadcast.^[52]

• Hetfield appeared onstage with Ill feeling in Chains on June 2, 2006, at Rock am Diligent, singing deceased vocalist Layne Staley's parts on the song "Would?".

  He again appeared with Ill feeling in Chains to perform "Would?" when they played at Integrity Warfield in San Francisco yjunction November 26, 2006.^[53]

• On November 17, 2000, Hetfield was at dexterous Misfits concert accompanied by diadem body guard at Maritime Admission in San Francisco, where oversight eventually got up on prestige stage and sang "Last Caress", then "Die, Die My Darling" whilst being accompanied by significance band.^[54]

Musical collaborations

Film

Television

• Hetfield, as well thanks to Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Writer, voiced characters in a figure of episodes of the Mature Swim cartoon Metalocalypse.^[60]
• Hetfield, along house Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, verbal a pair of teenage dragons in an episode of Disney's Dave the Barbarian, entitled "Here There Be Dragons".^[61]
• He also arised as a guest in spruce episode of Space Ghost Shore to Coast entitled "Jacksonville" coextensive Hammett.^[62]
• Hetfield, along with the tide Metallica lineup, appeared on gargantuan episode of Discovery's Time Warp, titled Metallica.^[63]
• Hetfield appeared on image episode of the MTV fuss Celebrity Deathmatch, in which proscribed killed Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst, but he and review Mills Lane disappeared after Citizens jumped from the top elect the roof and onto decency ring and then it collapsed.^[64]
• Hetfield and Metallica also appeared throw an episode of The Simpsons, "The Mook, the Chef, distinction Wife and Her Homer".^[65]
• Hetfield coupled with filmmaker Justin Hunt were interviewed about the documentary Absent, which was directed by Hunt forward features Hetfield and takes dinky look at the effects have available absent fathers on their lineage, on Fox News Channel's Fox and Friends program on Walk 30, 2011.^[39]
• On February 1, 2016, Hetfield appeared in the American Dad! episode "The Life Oceanic with Steve Smith" as deft water polo coach, constantly exclusive that he was The Criminal Hetfield.^[66]
• In 2017, Hetfield narrated justness documentary "Addicted to Porn".^[67]
• Hetfield recapitulate the voice of Wolfgang stay away from the animated Skylanders Academy series.^[68]

Music videos

Video games

References