person poster

Personal Info

Gender

Male

Birthday

1963-08-03 (61 years old)

Place of Birth

Downey, California, USA

James Hetfield

Biography:

James Alan Hetfield is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the 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 ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles.

In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time.

This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.

Known For

Acting

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Flying V as Self
History 101 as Self (archive footage)

2019

2018

Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician

2017

2016

2015

Metallica: Rock in Rio USA 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Mission to Lars as Himself

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

2008

2007

2006

Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
Metalocalypse as Fan #1 (voice)
Metalocalypse as Sniper (voice)
Metalocalypse as Troll (voice)
Metalocalypse as Lorkey (voice)

2005

The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
American Dad! as James Hetfield (voice)

2004

2003

2001

Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

2000

Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

1999

1998

Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

1997

Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars

1987

Metallica - Cliff 'Em All as Himself (Guitarist / Vocalist)

1986

1985

1984

1983

1975

Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest

1972

-

Sound

2024

On the Roam as Theme Song Performance

2013

Metallica: Through the Never as Original Music Composer