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pp-semi|small=yesInfobox musical artist| image = James Hetfield Rotterdam 2009.jpg| caption = Hetfield at Metallica concert on 2009-03-30 (Death Magnetic Tour, Ahoy Rotterdam)| image_size = 250| background = solo_singer| birth_name = James Alan Hetfield| birth_date = Birth date and age|mf=yes|1963|8|3|birth_place = Downey, California , United States| genre = Heavy metal music|Heavy metal , thrash metal , hard rock , speed metal | instrument = Guitar , Singing|vocals , Drum kit|drums , piano , Bass guitar|bass | occupation = Musician , songwriter , Record producer|producer | years_active = 1978–present| label = Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , Elektra Records|Elektra , Megaforce Records|Megaforce | associated_acts = Metallica , Spastik Children , Leather Charm | website = URL| http://www.metallica.com/| notable_instruments = Gibson Explorer ESP Guitars|ESP Truckster Ken Lawrence|Ken Lawrence custom models Gibson Les Paul Custom|Gibson Les Paul Custom "Iron Cross" James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is the rhythm guitarist , co-founder, main songwriter , and lead vocalist for the American Heavy metal music|heavy metal band Metallica . Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler , searching for band members. Since then, Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released nine studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked number 8 in Joel McIver 's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists ,cite web|url= http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/im-over-my-metallica-demons-says-dave-mustaine|title=‘I’m Over My Metallica Demons,’ Says Dave Mustaine|publisher=Claasic Rock and ranked twenty-fourth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time.
Biography
Early life
Hetfield was born August 3, 1963.cite web|url= http://www.netglimse.com/celebs/pages/james_hetfield/index.shtml |title=James Hetfield Biography, Bio, Profile, pictures, photos from |publisher=Netglimse.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-04 He is of German, English, Irish and Scottish descent. He has two older half-brothers from his mother's first marriage and one younger sister. He attended Downey High School his freshman and sophomore years.
His father, Virgil, was a truck driver who left the family when Hetfield was young. His mother, Cynthia, was a light opera singer. The two divorced in 1976. Virgil and Cynthia were very strict Christian Scientists , and in accordance with their beliefs, Hetfield's parents strongly disapproved of medicine or any other medical treatment and remained loyal to their faith even as Cynthia was dying from cancer . This upbringing became the inspiration for many of Hetfield's lyrics later in his career with Metallica, such as songs like "The God That Failed".
Cynthia Hetfield died of cancer in 1979 when James was 16 years old. After the death of his mother, Hetfield went to live with his older half-brother David. Virgil died in late 1996, during Metallica's Load (album)|Load tour. http://www.ilikethat.com/metallica/interviews_playboy.cfm Playboy Interview. Ilikethat.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
Musical influences
Hetfield was nine years old when he first began piano lessons, after which he took on his brother David's Drum kit|drums and finally, at the age of fourteen, he began to play guitar with Robert Okner .cite web|url= http://geocities.com/james7hetfield/bio2.htm |title=Biography |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2009-10-27 |accessdate=2010-11-11 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20091027102500/ http://geocities.com/james7hetfield/bio2.htm |archivedate = 2009-10-27 He also was in a few bands as a teenager – one being Leather Charm and another, Obsession.
Hetfield identifies Aerosmith as having been his main musical influence as a child, http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939967/james_hetfield_the_rolling_stone_interview/4 Search Articles, Artists, Reviews, Videos, Music and Movies. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-11-05. and has said they were the reason he wanted to play guitar. He also cited Led Zeppelin , Black Sabbath , AC/DC , Motörhead , Thin Lizzy , Ted Nugent and Deep Purple as important influences.
Metallica (1981–present)
Main|Metallica In the early days of the band, Metallica experimented with a few different vocals and guitar combinations, essentially creating a setup similar to that of Diamond Head. Some of the options considered included adding another guitar player, having John Roads play lead guitar, as well as asking John Bush (singer)|John Bush from Armored Saint (who later joined Anthrax (band)|Anthrax ) to sing for the band. The finalized line-up of the band became Hetfield (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), and Ron McGovney (bass) who was replaced by Cliff Burton soon.
From 1982 to 1983, Mustaine's alcoholism sparked heated altercations between Hetfield and himself.Cite episode |title= Behind the Music: Megadeth |episodelink= |url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0520959/%7CBehind |series=Behind the Music |serieslink= |network=VH1 |airdate=2001 Mustaine also once poured beer onto Ron McGovney's bass guitar|bass nearly causing serious damage. On April 1, 1983, the band recruited lead guitarist Kirk Hammett from the band Exodus (band)|Exodus and 10 days later Hetfield and Ulrich officially ejected Mustaine due to his alcoholic tendencies. http://www.metallica.com/timeline.asp? page=events& n_categoryid=807& year=1983? sPosx=41 Metallica.com. Metallica.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-05. Mustaine was sent home on a 4-day bus journey, and went on to form the heavy metal music|heavy metal band Megadeth . Later, Mustaine would be quoted to wonder why Metallica did not send him to rehab, but the other band members themselves drank heavily, Hetfield in particular, though Mustaine's alcoholism was of a more aggressive nature.
Until the mid-1990s, Hetfield recorded all rhythm tracks and most harmony tracksCitation needed|date=August 2009. Since the recording of Load (album)|Load , Hammett is recording rhythm guitars as well. Hetfield occasionally plays guitar solos on songs such as " Nothing Else Matters ", "My Friend of Misery", the outro solo on "The Outlaw Torn", the second solo on " To Live Is to Die ", the first solo on "Suicide and Redemption", the first interlude solo on " Master of Puppets (song)|Master of Puppets ", the harmonized solo on " Orion (Metallica song)|Orion " and the introduction harmonic solo in " The Day That Never Comes ". He also writes the majority of the guitar harmonies, as well as writing the lyrics, vocal melodies, and co-arranging the songs with Ulrich.
Hetfield has been involved in a number of onstage accidents, most notable being an incident with pyrotechnics at Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium in Montreal during the Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour on August 8, 1992. Hetfield was the victim of a severe pyrotechnics accident during the song "Fade to Black", in which a pyrotechnic exploded. Hetfield's guitar protected him from the full force of the blast; however, the fire engulfed his left side, burning his hand, arm, eyebrows, face and hair. He suffered second and third-degree burns, but was back on stage 17 days later, although his guitar duties were delegated to former guitar tech and Metal Church guitarist John Marshall (guitarist)|John Marshall for four weeks while he made a full recovery.cite news | first= David | last=Peisner | coauthors= | title= Rock Stars Who've Caught Fire Onstage& #33; |date=February 2007 | publisher= Blender Magazine Online | url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx? ID=2529& src=blender_ed | accessdate= 2007-02-27
Hetfield has also broken his arm a number of times while skateboarding, which prevented him from playing guitar on stage, and subsequently caused Hetfield's management company Q Prime to add a clause in Hetfield's contract forbidding him to ride a skateboard while Metallica was touring. http://www.musicfanclubs.org/metallica/jaymz.htm Music Fan Clubs Metallica – Metallica > The Band > James Hetfield. Musicfanclubs.org (1963-08-03). Retrieved on 2010-11-05. During a live performance on tour for the Metallica , Hetfield experienced complications with his vocals after performing a cover of the Anti-Nowhere League song " So What? ", forcing him to take vocal lessons for the first time. He did basic warm-up exercises to piano keys with his vocal coach who also gave him a cassette tape of the piano warm-up for future use. Hetfield still uses the same cassette he was given in the early nineties to this day before any live performance or any recording Metallica does. Hetfield talks about his vocal training endeavours in the Metallica documentary film, Some Kind of Monster (film)|Some Kind of Monster produced & directed by Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky. http://www.metallica.com/Media/Video/dvd.asp? dvd_id=8 Metallica.com. Metallica.com (2005-01-25). Retrieved on 2010-11-05. During the recording of the band's eighth studio album St. Anger in 2001, Hetfield went into Substance-abuse rehabilitation|rehab to address his alcohol addiction. He rejoined the band after seven months in rehab and four months recovering with his family. He is now clean and sober and is determined to remain so, all of which is featured in Some Kind of Monster .
Some Kind of Monster also shows the making of the St. Anger album and documents the various conflicts and issues the band were facing at the time including the departure of Jason Newsted , alcoholism, family commitments, and the future of the band with many in the rock press questioning whether the band would even still be together to see the completion of the St. Anger album.
Hetfield and Metallica addressed their need for a new bassist by recruiting Robert Trujillo , former bass player of Ozzy Osbourne . It was more of a swap since Ozzy Osbourne surprisingly recruited Jason Newsted shortly after Trujillo's transfer.The new line-up has continued to make music and tour worldwide. Metallica's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic , was released on September 12, 2008. Like St. Anger and every album of original material released by Metallica since 1991's Metallica , Death Magnetic went to #1 on the Billboard charts in over 30 countries during its first week of release. http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/906/906286p1.html Metallica – "My Apocalypse" Review – Music Review at IGN. Uk.music.ign.com (2008-08-28). Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
On April 4, 2009, Hetfield, along with remaining Metallica members Ulrich, Hammett, Trujillo, as well as former bassist Newsted and the deceased Cliff Burton were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.cite web| title=Metallica: inducted in 2009 |url= http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/metallica | publisher=Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame |date=February 2007 |accessdate=2010-02-24 In an interview after their nomination, Hetfield commented that everyone who had appeared on an album with the band would be inducted. This excluded original guitarist Dave Mustaine and original bassist Ron McGovney , as both had appeared only on the band's early demo tapes.
Hetfield was ranked 24th in the Hit Parader's Top Metal Vocalist of All Time. http://www.hearya.com/2006/12/04/hit-paraders-top-100-metal-vocalists-of-all-time/ Hit Parader’s Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time — HearYa – Indie Music Blog. Hearya.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-05. In 2009 he was listed at number 8 in Joel McIver 's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists .
Personal life
When he is not writing, singing or playing, Hetfield engages in a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, skateboarding, snowboarding, water and jet-skiing; sketching, working in his garage customizing cars and motorcycles, watching his favorite football team the Oakland Raiders , and going to hot-rod shows. http://www.metallica.com/Band/james.asp Metallica.com. Metallica.com (1963-08-03). Retrieved on 2010-11-05.
He also collects vintage guitars — particularly those from 1963 — and enjoys working on classic automobile s. Among his favorites are a '74 Chevrolet Nova|Chevy Nova , which he helped restore, and "The Beast", an all-terrain four wheel drive Chevrolet K5 Blazer|Blazer .
He put his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro up for sale on Ebay|eBay , with the proceeds going to a Music for Schools program.cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=15681|title=Metallica News|date=October 23, 2003|publisher=blabbermouth.net|accessdate=2009-08-21 The car was used in the video for " I Disappear " and was given to him as a gift upon the video's completion. Years later, James donated the car to the Hard Rock Cafe which is featured in the movie Hard Rock Treasures . "Slowburn," his 1936 Auburn boat tail speedster won the 2010 Goodguys Rod & Custom Association|Goodguys West Coast Custom of the Year.
Hetfield has a number of tattoo s, including one which shows flames encasing four cards, – ace (1), 9, 6 and 3 – representing the year of his birth , and the words " Carpe Diem " ("seize the day", also part of the title of the track "Carpe Diem Baby" of ReLoad ). The flames from the tattoo are in reference to the pyrotechnic accident which he suffered in 1992 during a concert in Montréal, Canada.S& M DVD special features interview He has tattooed an 'M' on his right hand which stands for "Metallica" and 'F' on his left hand which stands for "Francesca". He also has some Christian tattoos, including crosses and one of Jesus in his right arm. He has a tattoo of two razors forming the Straight edge#X symbol|straight edge X symbol on his left wrist.Interview with James Hetfield about his new straight edge tattoo in So What! magazine
Aside from these pursuits, Hetfield says he is often happiest spending time with his wife Francesca and their three children: Cali (b. June 13, 1998), Castor (b. May 18, 2000), and Marcella (b. January 17, 2002). Hetfield married his wife Francesca Tomasi on August 17, 1997.
During an interview cite web|url= http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=4469978|title=Metallica's James Hetfield on Rock and Therapy|date= A January 28, 2005 on NPR 's Fresh Air , Hetfield stated that his wife had helped him to mature and learn to deal with his anger issues more constructively, explaining that after they met, his destructive tendencies embarrassed both of them. He is also sober and has been since undergoing a Drug rehabilitation|rehab program in 2002 (documented in the film Some Kind of Monster (film)|Some Kind of Monster ), maintaining total abstinence from alcohol. In a 2010 interview with So What! , the official magazine of Metallica's fan club, Hetfield stated that he is a "reborn straight edge ".
The first single he ever bought was " Sweet Home Alabama " by Lynyrd Skynyrd .cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/news/hot-tours-metallica-eagles-eminem-jay-z-1004127933.story#/features/metallica-the-billboard-cover-story-1004128092.story? page=2|title=Metallica: The Billboard Cover Story|first=Mikael|last=Wood|publisher=Billboard
He and his family currently reside in Marin County, California , north of San Francisco . He was featured in a documentary, called Absent , directed by Justin Hunt , which takes a look at the effects of absent fathers on their children and the "father wound" that they leave behind. http://www.rockvillemusicmagazine.com/2010/08/james-hetfield-featured-in-absent.html RMM: James Hetfield featured in ABSENT documentary, exclusive interview with director Justin Hunt. Rockvillemusicmagazine.com (2010-08-25). Retrieved on 2011-04-21. http://www.rockvillemusicmagazine.com/2011/03/james-hetfield-interview-with-filmmaker.html RMM: James Hetfield Interview with Filmmaker Justin Hunt: The Fight For Fatherhood. Rockvillemusicmagazine.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-21. Hetfield and Hunt were interviewed about the film by Fox News Channel 's Fox and Friends program on March 30, 2011. http://www.rockvillemusicmagazine.com/2011/03/james-hetfield-to-appear-on-fox-and.html RMM: James Hetfield to Appear on FOX and Friends with Filmmaker Justin Hunt. Rockvillemusicmagazine.com (2011-03-28). Retrieved on 2011-04-21.
Hetfield has expressed his disdain for politics and celebrities who "soapbox their opinions," stating that, "For us, people are people — you should all have your own opinion."Harris, Chris. (2008-08-04) http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592036/metallica-tackle-forgiveness-resentment-new-video.jhtml Metallica Tackle Forgiveness, Resentment In 'The Day That Never Comes' Clip – Music, Celebrity, Artist News. MTV. Retrieved on 2011-04-21. In 2007, Metallica performed at London's Live Earth concert. When James was asked for his thoughts on climate change, he responded by saying, cquote|"I really avoided the press around the Live Earth day. I didn't quite agree with what was going on there. Politics drive me crazy, and I don't like talking politics. Politics get in the way of things; they get in the way of getting things done, and getting our music across is what we wanna do — we don't wanna cloud it with 'Democrat, Republican,' whatever. Our philosophy is 'think for yourself' at the end of the day — do what you think feels right. I really believe that humans will survive. I have a lot of faith in mankind that we will overcome and adapt — whatever it is; whether it's man-made or God-made, or Earth/Mother Nature — we have a lot of smart people on this planet that will make something good out of bad."cite web|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=76770 |title= JAMES HETFIELD Says METALLICA Is Focusing On Feeling Around 'Master Of Puppets' For New CD – July 14, 2007
Equipment
Guitars
Hetfield has been a major endorser of ESP Guitars since the 1980s, and is best known for playing custom-made Gibson Explorer|Explorer -style guitars with an EMG 81 / EMG 60 set for Pick up (music technology)|pickups . Hetfield's main guitar from the early days was a Flying V copy made in Japan by Electra, used almost exclusively until 1984 when he switched to the Gibson Explorer model.
During the mid-1990s, ESP Guitars|ESP produced the first of his ESP James Hetfield|signature model guitars . To date, Hetfield has had six signature guitars (may soon be seven) Citation needed|date=August 2011 with the company. However, Hetfield often uses guitars from Gibson Guitars|Gibson and other companies instead of ESP despite his endorsement.
Some of Hetfield's current tour guitars are:
ESP Truckster signature models in grey and black finishes
ESP Guitars|ESP "Iron Cross" – Has the ESP Eclipse|Eclipse body shape; distressed black with gold hardware, with a gold racing stripe and a gold Iron Cross on the body. It is based on the design of his 70's Gibson Les Paul Custom.
ESP EX|ESP Explorer – distressed black finish with white pickguard
ESP EX|ESP Explorer – silver diamond plate
ESP EX|ESP Explorer – black diamond plate
ESP EX|ESP Explorer "Papa Het" – with a white finish and some drawings by Donny Gillies|Dirty Donny
ESP EX|ESP Explorer – black diamond plate with deer antler inlay
ESP Guitars|ESP Flying V – white finish (replica of his old Flying-V copy)
ESP Guitars|ESP LTD "The Grynch" – signature guitar, black with green flames on both the front and back of the body and neck, used for the song Frantic (song)|Frantic
ESP Guitars|ESP "Snakebyte" - custom guitars in black and white finishes; feature a custom body and headstock designed by James. The retail model was revealed to the public at the Winter NAMM 2011 show.
Gibson Explorer – silverburst with white pickguard
Gibson Explorer "Rusty" – black satin with tarnished metal pickguard
Gibson Flying V – sunburst
Gibson Flying V – silverburst
Gibson Flying V – white, chrome pickups
Gibson Les Paul Custom- 70's era Les Paul with distressed black finish, gold stripe and gold iron cross on body; referred to as "Uncle Milty" and was the inspiration for his ESP Iron Cross signature model
Gibson Les Paul Custom- purple satin finish
Gibson Les Paul Custom- natural finish with drawing on body that says "Cliff Burton RIP"
James Trussart metal Explorer
James Trussart Steel DeVille – Gibson Les Paul|Les Paul -shaped guitar with a perforated, rusted steel front
Ken Lawrence Instruments|Ken Lawrence Explorer - The first of three custom made Explorer-type guitars made by Northern Californian luthier Ken Lawrence. It features a mahogany body with a chechen bark laminate top, modified Kenneth Lawrence headstock and custom "Tribal Hunting Scene" inlays.
Ken Lawrence Instruments|Ken Lawrence Explorer - It features a mahogany body with a quilted bubinga top, modified Kenneth Lawrence headstock, chechen rear cover plate and custom "Sun-Ray" inlays.
Variax|Line 6 Variax Acoustic 700 – used live for songs featuring acoustic guitars, such as Fade to Black (song)|Fade to Black and The Unforgiven (song)|The Unforgiven
"Dave of England custom aluminium engraved tattoo finish" – a Zemaitis Guitars|Zemaitis guitar with an engraved metal top
Fender Telecaster – with B-Bender in butterscotch finish
Other guitars owned/previously used by Hetfield include:
1984 Gibson Explorer #1 – white finish with "MORE BEER" written on white tape in the bottom left corner, the stock pickups were swapped for EMG 81 / EMG 81 set
1984 Gibson Explorer #2 – white finish with "So What" written in the bottom left corner, the stock pickups were swapped for EMG 81 / EMG 81 set
ESP Explorer – black finish with EMG, Inc.|EMG pickups, used as a warm-up guitar in the early '90s
Several Gibson Les Paul models – including Standard models in black, cherry sunburst, and lemon burst finishes
Gibson EDS-1275 – red finish
1963 Gibson SG – red finish with Whammy bar#Gibson Vibrola|Gibson Vibrola vibrato system
ESP EX|ESP Explorer#1 – Hetfield's first ESP guitar: white finish, "EET FUK" on the body, "middle finger" inlays. The headstock broke many times and so the guitar was eventually retired from live use, it has been seen in use on the recording of the new album during the making of "Suicide and Redemption"
ESP EX|ESP Explorer#2 – Hetfield's second ESP guitar: white finish, occasionally used live but Hetfield retired it for studio use
Numerous other ESP EX|ESP Explorer models – including models with black finishes and custom inlays (including the "man-to-wolf" inlays model and eagle inlay model); a double-neck model; a model with a custom "Burnt Elk Skull" finish; and a model with a black finish and EMG, Inc.|EMG pickups in an H/S/S configuration.
ESP James Hetfield|ESP JH1 Flying V – signature guitar with flames over a black finish
ESP Guitars|ESP Flying V with green flames (similar to the JH1)
ESP Eclipse JH3 – ESP Eclipse|Eclipse with black finish, with white "hot rod" pinstripe design, gold hardware, and checkered flag inlays
ESP Eclipse – "kustom kulture" graphic finish with iron cross inlays
Other ESP Guitars|ESPs include: a ESP Viper|Viper with custom artwork, several ESP Eclipse|Eclipses and F-series models (including 7-strings in standard and 6-strings in drop-C tuning)
ESP Horizon|ESP Horizon Double-neck – Used while touring for the Black Album. Was possibly used after his ESP Explorer Double-neck was damaged in a pyrotechnic accident
Ken Lawrence Instruments|Ken Lawrence Doubleneck Explorer
Ken Lawrence Instruments|Ken Lawrence Dragon Les Paul
Zemaitis Guitars|Zemaitis GZ Series GZV500MF-MBK – V-shaped guitar that has an engraved metal plate on the front of the body. Recently used by James in the World Magnetic Tour.
Fender Stratocaster – modified with natural finish, gold hardware and EMG, Inc.|EMG pickups
Jackson King V – white finish with chrome hardware, used during the Master of Puppets tour
White Flying V copy – This guitar is not a Gibson Flying V, but a Japanese copy made by Electra which Hetfield purchased for $200. It was retired after the neck broke twice and the guitar started to go out of tune easily. The stock bridge pickup was later replaced with Seymour Duncan Invader. Recently James had ESP make an exact copy of it even down to the bolt on neck. The pickups were swapped for EMG 81/60, knobs were replaced with Gibson style black speed knobs, pickup selector has been moved up and stock machineheads were replaced with Shaller machineheads. This guitar has been seen during the making of Death Magnetic during the making of "The Judas Kiss".
(This list is not exhaustive – he has a large collection of guitars, not all of which are listed.)
Amplifiers and cabinets
Throughout Metallica 's career, Hetfield has used a wide range of different amplifiers. For the first two albums, he used Marshall Amplification|Marshall heads and cabinets, with occasional effects. The specific Marshall that he used for Kill Em All was stolen after a concert prior to the recording of Ride The Lightning ; Hetfield was extremely upset by the theft, as his mother had helped him purchase the amp before her death. In 1986, for the recording of Master of Puppets , he and Kirk Hammett each bought a Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ amplifier (the preamp sections of which were connected to Marshall power amps), and since then he has mostly used Mesa/Boogie s, including the Triaxis and Rectifier models. Around the time of St. Anger , Hetfield began using the Diezel|Diezel VH4 head. The majority of his clean tones come from a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier , although many different amplifiers have been used over the years.
In December 2011, it was announced by Fortin Amps that they would team up with Randall Amplifiers to start a new line of tube amps based on the Fortin Meathead amplifier. Kirk Hammett currently has two prototypes, and Hetfield will eventually be receiving one.
The amplifiers currently used on tour by Hetfield are:
Mesa/Boogie TriAxis preamp (x4)
Mesa/Boogie Simul-Class 2:90 power amp (x2)
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier heads
Diezel|Diezel VH4 heads
Mesa/Boogie 4x12 cabinets with Celestion|Celestion V30 speakers in Isolation cabinet (guitar)|isolation cabinets
Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Guitar Amplifier|Roland JC-120 combo amplifiers
Effects
To avoid problems with pedals being damaged during live performances, Hetfield keeps his effect pedals in a rack along with his amplifiers and his tech controls them through a pedalboard sidestage. The pedal controller allows him to change between different effect pedals and amplifiers.
Hetfield's live rig in 2008 included:
col-begincol-2
TC Electronic G-Major
Line 6 (company)|Line 6 DM4
Mesa/Boogie Custom Graphic EQ
MXR Phase 100
ATI NanoAmp SUM 100
Klon Centaur
Boss Corporation|Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor
col-2
Voodoo Lab Ground Control Pro
Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher (x2)
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus
Dbx, Inc.|DBX 1074 Quad Gate
Behringer Multigate Pro
col-end In 2010, a Line 6 (company)|Line 6 effects unit was added to the list, along with the TC Electronics unit, perhaps indicating that this had replaced his stompboxes.
Accessories
col-begincol-2
Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings (.11-.48)
Dunlop Manufacturing|Dunlop James Hetfield Black Fang 1.14mm picks
3" Levy's Straps
Peterson Strobe 420 Tuner
EMG, Inc.|EMG JH Set
Shure UR-4D Wireless Equipment
Furman AR Pro Power Conditioner
col-endIn addition, Hetfield uses Shure Super 55 microphones for vocals.
...And Justice for All (album)|...And Justice For All (1988)
Metallica (album)|Metallica (1991)
Load (album)|Load (1996)
ReLoad (1997)
St. Anger (2003)
Death Magnetic (2008)
Guest appearances
Hetfield sang " Stone Cold Crazy " at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert , accompanied by the remaining members of Queen (band)|Queen and Tony Iommi on rhythm guitar.
He provided backing vocals on "Man or Ash" on the Corrosion of Conformity album Wiseblood (Corrosion of Conformity album)|Wiseblood .
He sang backing vocals on "Twist of Cain" and "Possession" on Danzig (band)|Danzig 's debut album, Danzig (album)|Danzig .
He played guitar on "Eclectic Electric" from the Primus (band)|Primus album Antipop .
Though previously believed to have been sung by Trey Parker , the song "Hell Isn't Good" from the film South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut was actually sung by Hetfield. He admitted to doing so in 2000, confirming what many Hetfield fans had already recognized as his trademark growling style. http://metallica.awardspace.com/inter.html The Playboy Interview: Metallica (April 2001).
Hetfield sang on the Gov't Mule song "Driving Rain" with fellow guest Les Claypool , which appears on the compilation album Crank It Up with NASCAR .
He also performed at the Outlaws Concert in 2004, alongside Hank Williams Jr. , Cowboy Troy , Big & Rich , Gretchen Wilson , and Kid Rock . Hetfield played one of close friend Waylon Jennings|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 ''. At this same event, he performed Metallica's "Mama Said" with Jesse Colter, the widow of Waylon Jennings, though this was cut from the television broadcast.
Hetfield, as well as Metallica's lead guitarist Kirk Hammett , voiced characters in a number of episodes of the Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse .
Hetfield, along with Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich , voiced a pair of teenage dragons in an episode of Disney 's Dave the Barbarian , entitled "Here There Be Dragons".
He also appeared as a guest in an episode of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast entitled "Jacksonville" alongside Hammett.
Hetfield, along with the current Metallica lineup, appeared on an episode of Discovery's Time Warp (TV series)|Time Warp , aptly titled "Metallica."
Hetfield appeared on an episode the MTV show, Celebrity Deathmatch in which he killed Limp Bizkit vocalist, Fred Durst , but he and ref Mills Lane disappeared after Mick Foley|Mankind jumped from the top of the roof and onto the ring and then it collapsed.
A photo of Hetfield appeared on Rammstein 's music video Haifisch , and was apparently "picked" to be the replacement for the "dead" Till Lindemann (only a video set and was not official despite him actually still alive as seen later in the clip).
Hetfield and Metallica also appeared in a Simpson's episode, The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer .
Hetfield appeared onstage with Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains in 2006 at Rock Am Ring , singing deceased lead vocalist Layne Staley 's vocal parts on the song " Would? ". Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has also joined Metallica in concert, performing " Nothing Else Matters ".
Hetfield was invited by Mike Portnoy to make a guest appearance on Dream Theater 's ninth studio album, Systematic Chaos , on the song "Repentance" to speak spoken apologies along with a number of other musicians, as part of Portnoy's Twelve-step Suite program, though Hetfield declined this invitation.Citation needed|date=April 2011
Hetfield and filmmaker Justin Hunt were interviewed about the documentary Absent , which was directed by Hunt and features Hetfield and takes a look at the effects of absent fathers on their children, on Fox News Channel 's Fox and Friends program on March 30, 2011.
References
reflist|30em
External links
wikiquote
IMDb name|0381723
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php? storyId=4160957 NPR Interview With Metallica Guitarist and Vocalist James Hetfield (2004, audio)
Metallica Persondata | NAME =Hetfield, James | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =August 3, 1963 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Downey, California , United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Hetfield, James Category:1963 births Category:American baritones Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American male singers Category:American rock singer-songwriters Category:Musicians from California Category:American skateboarders Category:Former Christian Scientists Category:American people of English descent Category:American musicians of German descent Category:American musicians of Irish descent Category:American people of Scottish descent Category:Metallica members Category:Living people Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:People from Downey, California Category:Rhythm guitarists