James Hetfield

James Hetfield is a singer and guitarist and one of the founding members of Metallica. As the band's frontman, Hetfield's snarling vocal delivery and unique rhythm guitar playing helped to popularise the Thrash Metal genre in the early 1980's.

Biography

Hetfield was born in Downey, California, in a suburb of Los Angeles on 3rd August 1963. He began to play guitar and was influenced by bands such as Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC, and later responded to an advert for musicians posted by drummer Lars Ulrich. Ulrich was looking for other musicians to form a band with and so the beginnings of Metallica were formed.

Hetfield and Ulrich relocated to San Francisco in 1983, with Cliff Burton and future Megadeth frotnman Dave Mustaine. Mustaine was quickly dropped in favour of Kirk Hammett, who joined the band as lead guitarist just before they released their debut album, Kill 'Em All.