James Hetfield

James Hetfield (born James Alan Hetfield, August 3, 1963 in Los Angeles, California) is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and a founding member of the American heavy metal band, Metallica.

Biography

Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, Los Angeles County, California. His childhood was difficult in many ways. His father, Virgil Hetfield (a truck driver) and mother, Cynthia (a light opera singer) were devout and strict adherents to Christian Science, and accordingly, much of his young life revolved around religion. In accordance with their beliefs, Hetfield's parents strongly disapproved of medicine or any medical help and remained vigilant in their faith even as his mother began to die of cancer. Her death, and his subsequently turbulent relationship with religion, are both recurring subjects which have been the focal point of some of Metallica's lyrics (the song "The God That Failed" is about Hetfield's mother and father and "Until It Sleeps" is about cancer, which both of his parents died of).

Hetfield was 9 years old when he took his first piano lessons, before taking on his brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens. Inspired by bands such as Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Hetfield formed his first band, Obsession, in his early teens. Composed of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums, Jim Arnold on guitar, and Hetfield providing lead vocals, the band spent plenty of time in the Veloz brothers' garage jamming, with Ron McGovney and Dave Marrs acting as roadies. Marrs and McGovney subsequently joined the band itself when the Veloz brothers quit.

After moving to Brea, California, due to the death of his mother, James attended Brea Olinda High School and met up with drummer Jim Mulligan. The two jammed at lunch time, scaring fellow guitarists with their loud and heavy sounds, before another student named Hugh Tanner was seen carrying around part of a flying V guitar at school. Phantom Lord was born with Hugh on guitar, Mulligan on drums, and James singing while also playing guitar. The group went through a few bass players until graduation, when James moved back to Downey.

Once back in Downey, James moved into a house owned by McGovney's parents that was slated for demolition due to an expressway expansion. It was the perfect place for James and Ron to crash, rehearse, and jam. James talked Ron into taking up bass, 'Phantom Lord' disbanded, and then the third band under Hetfield's leadership, Leather Charm, was born. The only difference between 'Charm' and 'Lord' was James no longer played guitar and McGovney played bass guitar, while Tanner and Mulligan retained their former 'Lord' positions. 'Leather Charm' was largely a hard rock combo, playing a few originals and in addition to covers, such as Iron Maiden's Remember Tomorrow. The band managed to perform at a few parties and recorded a demo, but then began to fall apart.

First, Tanner left the band, to be replaced by Troy James. Then Mulligan left for a more progressive, Rush-like band. Without a drummer, the rest of the band decided to call it quits. Although it was Mulligan's departure that led to James searching for a new drummer, it was also Hugh Tanner who was responsible for perhaps the catalytic moment in Hetfield's musical life, one which set him on the path to achieving the level of success he's experienced: he introduced Hetfield to Lars Ulrich. The rest, as may be read elsewhere, (see Metallica), is a long, illustrious (albeit occasionally curious), and still-evolving story.

Ironically, the voice of Metallica nearly wasn't a voice at all, simply because in the early days, Hetfield didn't fancy being a lead vocalist. Very early in its career, Metallica experimented with a few different vocal/guitar configurations. Some of the options considered included adding another guitar player; having then-lead guitar player, Dave Mustaine, play the sole guitar; as well as asking John Bush from Armored Saint (who later joined Anthrax) to sing for the band.

It is common knowledge among heavy metal/thrash fans that the relationship between Hetfield and Dave Mustaine trod a thin line between partnership and derision during 1981-83, during which time Mustaine's famous rock and roll lifestyle sparked heated altercations between the two. One particular event that brought the conflict to the foreground involved Hetfield kicking Mustaine's dog and Mustaine punching Hetfield in response and throwing an all-out rage against his fellow bandmates (flipping Ron McGovney on the ground, breaking things, etc.). Eventually, Hetfield and Ulrich fired Mustaine due to his alcoholic tendencies and recruited lead guitarist Kirk Hammett from the band Exodus the same day. Mustaine was sent home on a 4-day bus journey – a journey that would end in the creation of the band Megadeth, Mustaine's speed metal challenge to Metallica's more thrashing sound.

Hetfield is characterized as the heart and soul of Metallica, but he has also maintained a dictatorial control over the final product. Until the mid-1990s, he recorded all rhythm tracks, most harmony tracks, and the occasional solo (the first solos heard in "Master of Puppets" and "Orion," "To Live is to Die," and "Nothing Else Matters"), as well as writing the lyrics, vocal melodies, and co-arranging the songs with Ulrich. Hetfield has been involved in many accidents onstage, the most well-known being an incident with pyrotechnics while on the Guns N' Roses / Metallica tour in 1992: he suffered severe second and third degree burns to his left arm during the opening of "Fade to Black" and was unable to play guitar for the last two-thirds of the tour (former Metallica roadie and Metal Church guitarist John Marshall filled in while Hetfield continued to sing). He has tattooed his left arm with a picture of flames encasing four cards, - 1, 9, 6, 3 - representing the year of his birth.

During the recording of the St. Anger album, Hetfield went into rehab for alcoholism and "other addictions." Alcohol had long been a problem for Hetfield; indeed, the band's alcoholic antics earned them the nickname 'Alcoholica' by the music press. Just before this, Jason Newsted, Metallica's bassist, announced he was exiting the band, after James forbade him to work on any side projects. Hetfield has explained that now he knows exactly why Jason wanted to leave Metallica, and understands that Jason just wasn't getting his creative energy out enough in Metallica. Hetfield rejoined the band after 11 months in rehab and continued with the album. He is now sober and clean and is determined to remain so, despite the many temptations dogging rock stars. The movie Some Kind of Monster documents the making of the St. Anger album and shows the various conflicts and issues the band is faced with including alcoholism and family commitments and the future of the band.

Personal life

Due to his alcoholism, Hetfield has had many family problems. Since rehab, he tries to spend a lot more time with his wife and kids. When he's not writing, singing or playing, Hetfield enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, skateboarding, snowboarding, water and jet-skiing, sketching, watching his favorite football team the Oakland Raiders, in addition to going to hot-rod shows. He also collects vintage guitars, (particularly those from 1963), and enjoys working on classic automobiles. Amongst his favorites are a '55 Chevy Bel Air, which he helped restore, and The Beast, an all-terrain four wheel drive Blazer. Aside from these pursuits, Hetfield says he's often happiest spending time with his wife Francesca and three children: Cali, Castor, and Marcella. He put his 1967 Chevrolet Camaro up for sale on eBay, with the proceeds to go to a Music for Schools program. The car was used in the video for I Disappear and was given to him as a gift upon the video's completion. He even performed at the Outlaws Concert in 2004, alongside Hank Williams Jr., Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson, and Kid Rock. James played one of close friend Waylon Jennings's songs, "Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out Of Hand", the very same he recorded on the tribute album to Jennings, I've Always Been Crazy.

Equipment

Guitars

James has been a major endorsee of ESP guitars since 1991, and is best known for playing custom-made Explorer-style guitars with an EMG 81/EMG 60 set for pickups. His popularization of the model was considered by some to be a catalyst in Gibson's decision to sue ESP over loss of profits (Gibson originated the model in the late 1950s and has allowed other companies to build replicas). James' main guitar from the early days was a white Flying V(a copy version not an original Gibson model), used almost exclusively until it broke in 1987. After that he used a 1985 white Gibson Explorer bearing Metallica "Jump In The Fire" devil custom artwork (possibly a decal) and an '85 Silver Sparkle SD Jackson King V. In 1988 he switched to using white and black ESP Explorer models.

Amplifiers

James currently uses Diezel VH4 amplifiers, Mesa Boogie Triaxis preamps and Strategy 400 power amplifiers. Hetfield and Hammett arguably are two of the first investors in Mesa Boogie during its 1980s rise to fame, having used the Mark IIC+ amp which is considered an industry leader.

Speaker cabinets

Mesa Boogie 4x12" Speaker Cabinet

Accessories

Dunlop Tortex Green Picks (0.88mm)
Ernie Ball 'Power Slinky' strings

Trivia

Though previously believed to have been Trey Parker, the song "Hell isn't Good" from the motion picture Bigger Longer & Uncut , was actually sang by Hetfield, who admitted to doing so in 2000.

External links

NPR Interview With Metallica Guitarist and Vocalist James Hetfield (2004, audio)

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