James Hetfield

Not to be confused with James Hatfield.

James Hetfield
Hetfield performing with Metallica in 2024
Background information
Birth nameJames Alan Hetfield
Born (1963-08-03) August 3, 1963 (age 61)
Downey, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active1978–present
Member ofMetallica
Formerly of
Spouse
Francesca Tomasi
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2022)​

James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) 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 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 drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine 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 heavy metal rhythm guitar players of all time.[1]

In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at No. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists[2] and No. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time.[3] In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time,[4] as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine.[5] Rolling Stone placed him along with bandmate Kirk Hammett as the 23rd greatest guitarist of all time.[6]

  1. ^ "Best Rhythm Guitarists". The Top Tens. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "'I'm Over My Metallica Demons,' Says Dave Mustaine". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.
  3. ^ "AmIAnnoying.com – Hit Parader's Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists of All Time". amiannoying.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  4. ^ October 2012, Guitar World Staff 10. "Readers Poll Results: The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". guitarworld. Retrieved June 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Blabbermouth (January 23, 2004). "GUITAR WORLD's 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists Of All Time". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Rolling Stone. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.