James Hetfield and his guitars. James Hetfield biography
It's safe to say that unless you fell from the moon, you definitely know the band Metallica. But just in case you don't know, Metallica is a legendary metal band that was originally formed in Los Angeles, California back in 1981. They are essentially the creators of thrash metal, which is one of the best types of metal. Metallica is a phenomenal band that has inspired millions of people around the world to listen to heavy metal music and continues to do so today.
The amazing thing is that Metallica is one of the most popular and powerful bands, not only in the metal genre, but in the history of all music in general. Their music resonates in the hearts of their fans, and each of their songs gives the listener the feeling that the group is even more powerful and great. James Hetfield's impressive vocal range cuts through every note flawlessly, while Kirk Hammett delivers masterful riffs and solos. Metallica have always focused on their fans, not only on a musical level, but also on a personal level.
Below are 19 shocking facts about Metallica you might not know.
19. James Hetfield's first band
Contrary to what most people think, James Hetfield's first band was actually Obsession, not Phantom Lord. It was while playing in the band Obsession that Hetfield played for the first time with Metallica's original bassist, Ron McGovney. The group is well known for launching the career of singer Michael Vescera. Obsession had a long and complex career, performing from 1982 to 1989 before reuniting in 2004. This group still performs to this day. In 2012 they released their latest album entitled "Order of Chaos".
18. Green album “Ride The Lightning”
Metallica's second album, Ride The Lightning, released in 1984, is the album that most of us have either bought or at least seen. This album was printed in the standard blue color, but there are 400 copies of the album that were mistakenly printed in green by Bernett Records. These green copies are highly sought after by collectors and are very difficult to find. The album “Ride The Lightning” went platinum 6 times. It sold over 6 million copies in the US alone.
17. Metallica owns and operates MetClub
If you're a die-hard Metallica fan, then you've most likely heard of MetClub. The group organized a fan club in 1994 for its most devoted fans. The group owns and operates the club 100%. Metallica Club issues T-shirts every year and even prints their own magazine, So What! five times a year. However, that's not all, if you are a registered member of the club, you also get tickets to concerts, various merchandise released by the group, and if you're lucky, you might even get a chance to go behind the scenes.
16. “Seek and Destroy” was never a single
"Seek and Destroy" is supposedly one of the most popular songs from Metallica's 1983 album Kill 'Em All, which is actually pretty sad considering that entire album is made up of phenomenal songs. For example, "Phantom Lord", "Metal Militia" and "The Four Horsemen" are essentially better songs than "Seek and Destroy", which never actually became a single. Moreover, only two singles were released from the entire Kill 'Em All album: "Jump in the Fire" and "Whiplash".
15. Did Tarot cards kill Cliff Burton?
The tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton in a bus accident during the band's Master of Puppets tour was a huge loss for Metallica and all of its fans. A former Pentagram member named Joe Jasselvader has said several times that he believes Burton died because he had a deck of tarot cards left over from the Salem Witch Trial. At the time of his death on September 27, 1986, Burton was only 24 years old. However, his legacy has not died, as Rolling Stone magazine voted him the ninth best bassist in history in 2011.
14. The legacy of the “Black Album” 
Of the nine albums that Metallica recorded, their self-titled album, also known as The Black Album, is still considered one of the best-selling albums of the SoundScan era. In total, this album sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. In 2003, the album was ranked #225 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums in History. In 2012, the band played the Black Album in its entirety during their 2012 European Black Album Tour.
13. The album “Death Magnetic” helped break a record 
Since the release of Metallica's last album, Death Magnetic, in 2008, they have become the only US band to have five consecutive studio albums at number one on the US Billboard 200. The album received many positive reviews, and many critics even noted that Metallica had returned to their original musical style. Death Magnetic was also the first album to feature bassist Robert Trujillo. And since we're talking about him...
12. The story of Robert Trujillo
Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo formed Mass Mental in 1998, while he was still playing in Ozzy Osbourne's band. Mass Mental released only one live album and one studio album, both of which were released only in Japan. Apart from this, he was also a member of the bands Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. Trujillo has been with Metallica since 2003, but has only contributed to one studio album in his 12 years with the band.
11. Group “Spastic Children”
Have you ever heard of the group “Spastic Children”? It's quite possible you haven't heard of them, given the fact that the band was a "joke band" formed by James Hetfield, Cliff Burton, Fred Cotton and James McDaniel. Their music is more of a pure punk style and they only performed in clubs in northern California. They never rehearsed, so their music was quite scandalous. James was the drummer and Cliff played bass. After Cliff died, Kirk played bass and once said that the Spastik Children were a great way to drink and fool around on stage.
10. They all went solo 
Besides being members of the most legendary metal band in the world, these guys have also been involved in side projects over the years. Lars recorded the drums from "Mercyful" for their remake of "Return of the Vampire". James recorded the songs "Am I Demon?" and "Twist of Cain" with Danzig, where he sang backup. Kirk has also recorded tracks with other artists such as Les Claypool and Mike Bordin, and he has also made several demos for the band Death Angel.
9. Accident at the Olympic Stadium
Hetfield suffered burns during a fiery accident on stage at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. James walked into 10-foot-tall flames during a pyrotechnics show, leaving him with second- and third-degree burns on his upper body and head. Jason Newsted, the band's bassist at the time, said Hetfield's skin was "bubbling like The Toxic Avenger." Because of this incident, Metallica had to end their performance early. After a long interval, the musicians of the band Guns N' Roses took the stage, but due to a hasty setup, their monitors were not installed correctly and the musicians could not hear themselves. Axl Rose also stated that he had a sore throat, so Guns N' Roses also ended their performance early. Because of this, unrest and riots took place on the streets of Montreal.
8. Album “St. Anger" won a Grammy 
Some Metallica fans hated the band's 2003 album, St Anger, so much so that some US fans held "CD burning parties." Nowadays the band very rarely plays songs from this album in concerts. Despite the hatred from fans, Metallica won Best Metal Show with the lead single "St Anger", and the album itself went double platinum in the US. In total, 6 million copies were sold worldwide.
7. Hatfield's Christian Upbringing
Frontman James Hetfield is known for his emotional and ferocious songwriting, which most likely stems from his overly strict Christian upbringing. The song "The God That Failed" from Metallica's 1991 album of the same name takes its name from Hetfield's religious family, as the song is based on the death of his mother. Due to her strong religious beliefs, she refused any medical treatment for her cancer and instead prayed in the hope that God would heal her.
6. Lars, rising tennis star 
Lars Ulrich was a rising tennis star as a child when he lived in Denmark. Professional tennis was his family's strong point, with his father and grandfather playing the sport professionally. Before he moved to Los Angeles at age 16, Ulrich became friends with Swedish pop singer Neneh Cherry. Soon his passion for music overshadowed everything else, especially tennis. Although he has often been criticized for his technical skills as a drummer (especially in comparison to other metal artists), there is no doubt that Ulrich has become one of the most famous drummers on Earth.
5. Hammett vs. Mustaine
Original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine was fired in 1983 and, as many know, later formed Megadeth. Kirk Hammett subsequently replaced Mustaine in Metallica. During all this fuss, Mustaine felt that he had been treated unfairly, since he was the one who wrote many of the riffs that Hammett later perfected and made famous. He once said that "Hammett stole my job, but at least I slept with his girlfriend before he took my job." Never change, Dave.
4. Personal assistants of the band “Metallica”
Nowadays, many celebrities have personal assistants. In fact, it is now quite difficult to meet a famous person who does not have a personal assistant. Lars Ulrich has a personal assistant who follows him everywhere. Her name is Barbara and she basically does everything for him, from turning on his computer to fastening his watch strap...oh the life of a rock star! In total, Metallica has 83 full-time assistants. During the recording of the St Anger album, the band even hired a psychologist to help support the band's mental health.
3. April Fools joke?
Before he joined Metallica, Kirk Hammett was the guitarist for Exodus. When he first received a call about an audition for Metallica, he was shocked and decided that it was just his friend who decided to make a cruel joke on him on April Fools' Day. However, a few days later he received a second call and realized that everything was serious, and the rest is history. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stone's "100 Best Guitarists and History", falling just between Keith Richards at 10th and Kurt Cobain at 12th.
2. No personal opinions about politics
Over the years, various musicians have expressed their personal political opinions through music. However, James Hetfield disagrees with this idea. In the past, he spoke about his opinion on this matter:
“There are a huge number of celebrities who publicize their ideas, and people think they should be believed because they love their idols. For us, people are people, absolutely everyone should form their own opinion. We hope that we succeed in putting a human element into what is an unhappy part of life."
1. The Birth of Metallica
It's always interesting to learn about the origins of any band, especially if it's one of your favorite bands and always has been. Metallica began in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an ad placed by Lars Ulrich in the Recycler. They met to rehearse, but things didn't work out and it wasn't until a year later, when Lars needed to start a band immediately, that the band was fully formed and recorded a series of "Metal Massacre" tracks for the Metal Blade record label. The name "Metallica" was suggested by a friend of Ulrich's named Ron Quintana, who also suggested the name "MetalMania".
James Alan Hetfield, genus. August 3, 1963, Los Angeles, California (USA) - guitarist, one of the founders and permanent leader of the group Metallica.
For James Hetfield Metallica became something of a refuge. His image as a beer-sipping lone wolf - a hardened criminal of sorts - has always been deceptive. In fact, those who have known for a long time James, claim that he is a very vulnerable and impressionable person who has never been immune to criticism.
Family
Father James, Virgil (English) Virgil) - a bus driver who left his family when James was 13.
“It was very unpleasant for me as a child, not knowing what was happening,” says James about the separation of parents. - It was kind of hidden. This is a big defect in my character, which remains to this day - it always seems to me that everyone is hiding something from me. My father left, and for many months we had no idea that he had no intention of returning. Mom said that he was on a business trip, and in the end she told the truth. I had a fear that I remained the main man in the house, not knowing how and what to do. There was a feeling that I had not learned enough from my father, that he was not there for me when I needed him, and it all accumulated. Strong hatred towards him. He didn't even say goodbye. I have no idea what happened between them. Maybe it was something completely terrible where he should have just disappeared and that was it. But they were both very religious, and for me that went against all this divorce stuff. To be abandoned. I had problems with this. Then, 3 years later, my mother died. I attribute this to this whole whirlwind of problems regarding divorce. It was very painful".
His mother, Cynthia Cynthia) (opera singer), together with his father James, was a follower of Christian Science, and according to Hatfield a significant part of his life in his youth was associated with Christianity.
“Faith and religion were imposed on me when I was still a child,” says James. - My parents raised me without believing in medicine and doctors. Every religion has its great aspects, but a child is not yet able to grasp them... It was one of those religions that you begin to understand with age, when you already have experience communicating with doctors. In general terms, consciousness in it dominated over matter.
As a child, all this religiosity really irritated me. After all, I could not attend physical education classes, anatomy classes and all these health-improving activities. You know, in elementary school you really want to be everywhere with your friends... They take out textbooks on anatomy, but for some reason you can’t learn anything about the structure of a person, because “the body is just a shell of the soul.” You cannot go to the doctor, because God will cure all your illness. I had to get up and leave the classroom, and whispers would pass through the rows... “Why are you leaving class?” And I went into all these explanations about religion. And when you are only seven years old, you don’t really want to talk about such things. When you play football, and at the same time you are deprived of the feeling of your own physicality... It did not help you feel like you are part of the Universe. No matter how stupid it may sound. But no".
According to their beliefs, parents Hatfield disapproved of medicine and any kind of medical intervention, and remained true to their faith even when Cynthia was dying of cancer ( James I was 16 years old then).
The death of the mother and a difficult attitude towards religion later became the main themes of many of the group's songs. Metallica. Songs - " Mama Said», « Dyers Eve" And " The God That Failed" - about Hatfield's parents, and " Until it Sleeps- about cancer.
Music career
Play music James started at age 9 on piano, then played drums for his brother, and finally moved on to guitar.
“My mom took me to piano lessons because we were staying at a friend’s house. - says James. - I started playing the piano, and my mother thought that I would become a virtuoso [Laughs]. Three years of piano lessons in an old woman's house that smelled terrible. I realized pretty quickly that it was a great means of communication. I liked being alone. I liked the opportunity to disconnect from the world. Music helped a lot with this. I put on headphones and just listened to music. The music spoke through my voice and became a connection on many levels. It was very natural that I wanted to express myself in this way. Everything revolved around Kiss and Aerosmith. This was the first concert I attended - Aerosmith and AC/DC at the Long Beach Arena (July 12, 1978). I also liked Ted Nugent, Alice Cooper. A lot of the edgier, heavier rock that was American at the time.”
His first group was the amateur team "Obsession". The band consisted of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums and Jim Arnold on guitar. Ron McGovney and Dave Marrs sat in the attic of the Veloz garage, clicking on the control panel for the lighting effects. The group played famous compositions of such groups as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. After the collapse of Obsession Marrs, Hatfield and McGovney continued to play together. After moving to La Brea, James entered Brea Olinda School and met drummer Jim Mulligan. Soon Hugh Tanner appeared and with him they created Phantom Lord. With Hugh on lead guitar and Jim on drums, James sang and played rhythm guitar. The group changed several bassists until the moment when James graduated from high school and moved back to Downey. In Downey James moved into the house owned by Ron McGovney's parents, which had to be demolished due to the expansion of the expressway. This house was the perfect place for James and Ron to get together and listen and play music. James persuaded Ron to play bass guitar and even promised to teach him. Third group James, Leather Charm, consisted of former members of Phantom Lord. Except James and Rona, which included Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan. The Leather Charm group was more successful. She played her songs and covers, such as Quiet Riot Slick Black Cadillac And Remember Tomorrow Iron Maiden. The group managed to play in several concerts and recorded a demo, but began to fall apart. Tanner was the first to leave the group and was replaced by Troy James. Mulligan then left for another, more progressive group. Ultimately, Leather Charm fell apart.
Metallica
The most important event in life James was a meeting with a native of Denmark, a drummer Lars Ulrich. Together, in 1981 they founded the group Metallica.
“We answered his ad in the newspaper, met him in some little warehouse somewhere, he set up his drum kit, and he didn’t play well at all, but he had the motivation, the knowledge. - says James. “He had the same drive and the same aspirations as me.” Besides the fact that his acting wasn't very good at that time, he gave off all sorts of smells [Laughs]. The misfortune of being European is that they don't make soap there and no one ever washes. It's definitely a different feeling when visiting his house. Very friendly, very open. My house was very elite, very closed, unless you were a follower of our religion... We didn't have many guests at home. Lars's house was the complete opposite. Very hippie style, “Come on in” style. I wouldn't say he was spoiled, but being an only child, he had a lot of records. I walked in and couldn't believe it. I had my little set, and he had his whole bedroom wall filled with stuff. He could just go to a record store and say, “I want to hear what these guys are.” I couldn't afford that. But, man, I came and copied everything I could from him.”
Lars stole the name from a certain Ron Quintana, who was ready to launch a magazine for metal music fans. Quintana had several names, but he couldn’t settle on one, so he asked his friend Larsa help choose. After Ulrich heard the word Metallica, he quickly suggested another name for the magazine, but Metallica I kept it for myself.
If Lars Ulrich took full responsibility for organizational issues, then Hatfield has always been the creative heart of the team. James admits that he understood that endless business meetings were not for him: “I fell asleep at one of them. I kept waking up and asking, “Damn, what are we talking about here? I’ve already forgotten.” A Lars I like it. This is his life - the group, its business aspect and so on. He calls managers hourly. Lars I like to tinker with all this, well, I'm interested in sales volume and the recording process. I'm throwing myself into it."
“We have always categorically avoided the use of metal clichés - all this sexism and Satanic crap - and, as a result, all the prominent journalists appreciated it,” says Lars Ulrich.
James comes up with lyrics for the group. The pinnacle of the group’s creativity has always been called “ The Black Album"1991. James I put a lot of my personal experiences into it. “It's not hard to write songs like the ones on And Justice For All,” says the musician. - It's very simple: you watch a news program and write about what you see. And conveying what is going on in the soul is much more difficult than writing about politics. But once you've let it all out, it's easy to give it some authority, especially at concerts. There's nothing better than writing the words to a great song and taking it to the next level. It brings great satisfaction. I don’t know, maybe this pride is akin to a mother’s: “Look at this baby.”
I'm not one of those guys who sits and reads novels or poems, I don't write elegant sonnets. The only way is to listen to what is inside and what would affect everyone. You need to write about your own feelings and, to a lesser extent, about the world around you. This is the right method."
One evening James chatting on the phone and at the same time playing something on an acoustic guitar. While plucking the bass strings, he caught the melody and, realizing this, immediately hung up the phone: “I had no intention of composing this song for Metallica. This was my personal song. I didn't think they'd like it. I just wrote it for myself."
The melody was called Nothing Else Matters. “It was impossible to impose any boundaries on this song,” says Lars Ulrich. “And when we were later offered to play it with a symphony orchestra, I did not object.” “I was a little embarrassed,” says James. - I didn't know how to do it. I didn’t even know how to record such melodies!”
Nothing Else Matters helped the group Metallica to cross all the boundaries invented by themselves, the press and the public. They proved that heavy, powerful music can be different. They brought amazing dynamics to their songs and were able to transcend genre.
Metallica had a great influence on the development of metal and is included (along with such groups as Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax) in "The Big Four of Thrash Metal". Albums Metallica have sold a total of more than 100 million copies worldwide, making them the most commercially successful metal band.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassist Flea gave the opening speech at the ceremony. Numerous friends of the group were invited to the ceremony.
The band performed with five members - a former bassist joined the group Metallica Jason Newsted. The group performed the songs " Master of Puppets" And " Enter Sandman", and also had a jam, performing the composition " Train Kept A Rollin"" with Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Ronnie Wood and Flea.
One of the conditions for getting into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame— at least 25 years must have passed since the release of the first album. The group's first album Kill 'Em All came out in 1983.
Studio albums
Kill 'em All (1983)
Ride the Lightning (1984)
Master of Puppets (1986)
...And Justice for All (1988)
Metallica (1991)
Load (1996)
Reload (1997)
St. Anger (2003)
Death Magnetic (2008)
Accidents
James Hetfield famous for the accidents that happened to him during performances Metallica. Perhaps the most famous incident was at a joint concert with Guns N "Roses in 1992 at the Montreal Olympic Stadium. During the performance of the song "Fade to Black", Hatfield passed over the pyrotechnic equipment at the moment when it went off. This led to the fact that James suffered second and third degree burns to his left arm and face, and was forced to give up playing the guitar. John Marshall from Metal Church was invited to replace the rhythm guitarist for the duration of the tour. Before the next concert, the pyrotechnicians informed the band that new special effects would be used during the performance of "Fade to Black": there would be fireworks at the edges of the stage. However, the pyrotechnicians forgot to warn that the old special effects would also remain. Confident that history will not repeat itself, James stood next to an old pyrotechnic installation and a 12-foot-high burst of flame burned him on his left side.
But Hatfield none of this worries: “The burden that I put on myself is something like this: I’m the leader of this band on stage and I can play a concert sober, with a clear mind, I can play a concert without thoughts in my head that after the final song I’ll go get drunk or I'll go to the strip club. I asked myself a lot of questions, asked myself if I could live without this. I went on stage, looked around, looked at the audience and realized that the pleasure of performing filled everything, and I simply didn’t need anything else. But there was something else. I used to get goosebumps on stage with fear when everyone was smiling and having fun. I mean, on stage I was really happy and I expressed it in different ways, it was something! They told me: “Stop smiling and laughing, you look like a child who is on stage for the first time.” And I was a child, a real one. It's just super to smile and show everyone how happy you are. Now I was truly free on stage. I told the crowd what I was feeling in the moment, even if it was terrible, like, “I felt like crap all day today, but I got up on stage, I’m standing here, I’m feeling better.”
Alcoholism rehabilitation
During the recording of the album " St. Anger» James Hetfield decided to curtail his participation in the recording in order to undergo rehabilitation for alcoholism. Eleven months later he returned to the studio to complete the disc. James appeared in public in 2003 when Metallica was nominated as MTV Icon of the Year.
Some Kind of Monster (2004)
Renowned documentarian Joe Berlinger presented a family portrait of the group Metallica in the interior, the portrait is painfully frank, and at times shocking. This astounding film was shot during the most difficult period in the band's history during the recording of the album " St. Anger", which received a Grammy Award. The original guitarist also appears in the film Dave Meistein, And Jason Newsted, who left the band in 2001, and, of course, the new bassist Robert Trujillo!
Personal life
In free time James He enjoys hunting, collecting rare guitars, skateboarding, snowboarding, water skiing, working in the garage, watching his favorite team, the Oakland Raiders, and attending hot rod races.
James I like the music of such artists as Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Ted Nugent. Now he also listens to Rocket From The Crypt, Gov't Mule, Corrosion Of Conformity.
And although James Hetfield tirelessly repeats that he is married to Metallica, in fact, he also has a real wife - Francesca Tomasi (eng. Francesca Tomasi).
Their first daughter was born on June 13, 1998, they named her Callie T Hatfield. Cali). Attention to the first child in the family Metallica from the press was so great that the happy father retired with his no less happy wife and daughter, and then had to act as a family press attache Lars Ulrich. On May 18, 2000, Francesca gave birth to a boy, Castor Virgil. Castor), and on January 17, 2002 - daughter Marcella Francesca (eng. Marcella). Hatfield married Francesca on August 17, 1997.
“Every single day I tell my wife and children that I love them, but I still want to hug them, kiss them. I hope, I believe that this is love, says James. - I like to walk children to school, talk to their teachers, meet their friends, and pick them up from school. I love it when they run towards me and shout: “Daddy, today we had this and that.” But not everything is so simple, we are not always comfortable together. I'm just ashamed to think that I'm not comfortable with my family in society, and all because of my lifestyle. I have a hard time accepting that my wife is going away for the weekend with friends. I am left alone with the children and immediately the question is: “What should I do?” We're going somewhere far away for ice cream because I don't want to date anyone and waste my kids' time with strangers. I really really want to be a good father, I try to do everything for my children. I constantly think about what good I can do for my children and I simply cannot imagine my life without them.
One day my wife Francesca was sick and at home, and I sat and took care of her and the children, and it was great. And when I'm on the road, I really miss them. The time I spend with them is very important to me, because I love them very much. But I’m still divided into two parts - one of them wants to perform on stage, and the other wants to play in the garden with children.”
World Magnetic Tour
Death Magnetic is the ninth studio album by Metallica, released on September 10, 2008 in the UK, distributed by Vertigo, and released worldwide on September 12. The album was the first of its kind in the group's history, with each of its members contributing to the writing of songs or creating their own. Also precisely in Death Magnetic for the first time, after ...And Justice for All, an instrumental track was included.
Death Magnetic debuted at number one in many countries, including Australia, Canada and Mexico, as well as on the European Albums Chart. The record sold 490,000 copies in the United States. Besides, Metallica became the first group to have five consecutive number one albums on the Billboard 200.
A week after release, Death Magnetic remained at number one on the Billboard 200, the European album chart, and also became the fastest-selling album in Australia in 2008. Even after three weeks Death Magnetic still topped the Billboard 200 chart. In 2008, only Metallica and Jack Johnson. And on the Billboard "Hard Rock", "Modern Rock/Alternative" and "Rock" charts, the album remained at number one for five weeks in a row.
Total Death Magnetic occupied the first lines of the charts in 32 countries.
Due to the success of the ninth album Metallica, MTV Europe nominated the band for their Music Awards in the "Rock Out" and "Headliner" categories, and MTV Latin America invited the musicians to perform at their Music Awards. Metallica played the song “The Day That Never Comes”.
On October 21, 2008 the band went on tour World Magnetic Tour. The list of lucky ones: Peru, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Caracas, Puerto Rico, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia (April 24-25, 2010), Hungary, Croatia, Portugal, France, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
...
“Whether I’m wandering God knows where, whether I’m hunting, I always think about Metallica, - speaks James Hetfield. - I think, even if I don’t want it. And that is great. You are part of the family, and it means a lot to you, there is no getting around it. Metallica takes up a lot of time, and there is almost no time left for anything personal, for some other life - having your own home and somehow arranging your life is very difficult. And that's why sometimes you just get torn apart. But we are family."
In this article I will try to talk about the metal girls and wives of the members, both past and present, of the Metallica group. Why should I try? If quite a lot is known about the other halves of Lars, James, Kirk and Robert, then we managed to collect some crumbs about the muses of the other accomplices.
During their Load / ReLoad, Metallica released one of the most beautiful videos, in my opinion, King Nothing, based on the works of Hieronymus Bosch about the paintings of Heaven and Hell. Where Paradise seemed gray and lifeless, and Hell (oh Hell!) was filled with life and bright colors.
A long time ago (in a place far, far away..., wait! this is not from there), back in 1981, Metallica began. Although, to be honest, it began a little earlier, when Ron McGovney and James Hetfield created the group “Leather Charm” by hook or by crook. So, more about the former and current members of the Metallica group and a little of the scant information available about their personal lives.
McGovney Ron(Ron McGovney; 1963-11-02) Los Angeles native. He has two sons, Justin (born 1994) and Tyler (born 1996), and a daughter, Jordan (born 1999). We will not describe a full biography, we will only note that after leaving proto-Metallica, in 1986 he played in the band Phantasm along with Katon De Pena, Rod Nicholson, Johnny Tabares and Nathan Williams.
Note ed. I rummaged through half the bourgeoisie: no matter how much I searched, I still couldn’t find any information about his wife. Either he is raising three children alone, or he is married. And who is the wife?!
Lloyd Grant(Lloyd Grant) lead guitarist who was never actually part of Metallica. How it really was.
In 1981, Lars agreed to include the song in the Metal Massacre compilation. The choice fell on “Hit The Lights”. So they invited Jamaican musician Lloyd Grant to record this song. McGovney wrote about this man:
“Lloyd listened to the song for five minutes and played a gorgeous solo. Then he left. Next I tried Mustaine. It turned out much worse for him.”
From 1985 to 1989 he played in the thrash metal band Defcon. In 1998 in the group “Pharaoh”.
It was also not possible to clarify any information about his personal life.
Mustaine David Scott(David Scott Mustaine), born in 1961, September 13th in La Mesa, California. Protestant by religion. By the way, his godfather is Alice Cooper. Mustaine's nickname was Dangerous Dave - then the computer toy of the same name was very popular, where the main character shot and destroyed everything.
Mustaine's father John Jefferson Mustaine is Irish and a complete alcoholic. He was a branch manager for Bank of America. Then at the National Cash Register. In 1978, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and fell into a coma.
Emily Mustaine's mother is Jewish, originally from Essen, Germany. She worked as a maid on Linda Isle in Newport Beach, California. She was not too happy about her son’s passion for drinking, drugs and devilish music, since she was a Jehovah’s Witness. She died in 1990.
In 1965, the parents divorced. It is believed that John constantly terrorized the family and therefore they moved often.
There are older sisters. Michelle (Michelle, born in 1941). She married Stan, a patrol cop.
Suzanne (Suzanne, born in 1946). She married Bob Wilkie, the Stanton police chief and a former minor league baseball player who was Mustaine's idol. Bob has a stepson, Mike, Dave's nephew. Looks like sister Sue did a good job. In 1975, Mustaine and his mother lived with Suzanne.
Debbie (Debbie, Deborah K. Mustaine, born in 1958). She married Mike Balli. His mother lived with Jack Lord, the host of the TV show Hawaii Five-0. Mike's younger brother Mark Balli played bass with John Voorhees, where Dave Mustaine was invited to play. The first song they played was "Panic in Detroit" by David Bowie, which gave the band the name Panic. Debbie is friends with Mike Jordan.
At the age of 13, his Garden Grove friends introduced him to the magical world of marijuana. Then he lived in the village of Hermosa, near Huntington Beach. Studied at Golden West College. He was engaged in drug dealership. Moved to Pocatello, Idaho with Michelle and Stan. Then he returned to Orange County and enrolled in night school. Worked in the garage.
Interesting fact. Since 1976, Mustaine has lived separately in a rented apartment (his mother kicked him out because of trading). At that time he was selling drugs. And one of his clients, often, due to lack of money, paid with records from Aeron Maiden, Motorhead, Judas Priest and AC/DC.
Mustaine's first band was called Panic. The group managed to play a single concert, after which, on the way back, the whole train crashed into a railway booth. The sound engineer and drummer died during the incident. Three songs from this group were subsequently included in Metallica's first album.
Dave co-wrote “Metal Militia”, “Phantom Lord”, “Jump In The Fire” and “Mechanix” (later James Hetfield would rename it “The Four Horsemen”) from “Kill em All” and “The Call Of Ktulhu” ( Megadez called "Hangar 18") and "Ride the Lightning" from "Ride the Lightning".
Interesting fact. The term “Ride the Lightning” itself is a slang wish for someone sentenced to death in the electric chair.
One of the last straws in the relationship between Metallica and Mustaine was a trip from San Francisco to New York to meet Johnny Z. The meeting did not take place due to an accident with a jeep during a snowstorm in Wyoming: a truck flew from the left lane into a ditch. No one was hurt, but since the incident happened while Dave Mustaine was driving drunk, everyone knew it was time to get rid of him.
Dave Mustaine's last concert with Metallica was on April 9, 1983. Then their paths diverged. They say Lars, James and Cliff stood around Mustaine's bed with sour faces and pointed him to the door.
After Mustaine was “expelled” from Metallica, he founded the group “Fallen Angel”, which lasted until 1983. Then there was Megadez. But that's a completely different story.
Interestingly, “Go to Hell” by Megadez and “Enter Sandman” by Metallica have a similar verse: Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep If I die before I wake Pray the Lord my soul to take
They say Dave almost had a heart attack when he first heard “Enter Sandman.”
Mustaine's first girlfriend in 1974 (he was 13 years old at the time) was a girl named Linda. Willow's next friend worked at the Westminster Mall chain of stores. The speaker was Moira. Then from 1981 to 1988 there was Diane Aragon. There was a friend of Leslie.
Mustaine met his wife Pamela Anne Casselberry in 1991. On our first lunch date, she revealed that her father had died of cancer. And she doesn't like heavy metal at all. After which they made love. In 1991, on March 3rd, Dave and Pamela got married in Honolulu on the island of Oahu.
Dave wrote "The Hardest Part of Letting Go is Saying Goodbye" for his future wife.
They have a son, Justis David, born 1992-02-11, and a daughter, Electra Nicole, born 1998-01-28.
Some information taken from the book "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Joe Layden".
Cliff Barton(Clifford Lee Burton, 1962-02-10 - 1986-09-26), tragically deceased bass guitarist of Metallica. A little more about him. Native of the Castro Valley area of San Francisco. Born at Eden Hospital at 9:38 am. He is 189 cm tall. His father is Ray Burton, a traffic engineer from Tennessee. Mother Jan Burton, a schoolteacher and construction manager, died in 2003. Older brother Scott Burton (died 1975-05-19 at 11:50 on the way to the hospital from a brain aneurysm). Older sister of Connie Burton.
From 1980 to 1982 he dated Audrey Kimball, and from 1982 with Corinne Lynn. She stayed with him until his death in 1986.
Interesting fact. As a child, Cliff “caught” a fishhook with his right hand and tore his tendons, so he could not play with either his middle or ring finger (information to be confirmed). Now when he played, it was like a rocker goat (fingers, devil-horns).
Now about the tragedy that happened. On Saturday, September 27, 1986, at dawn, on a winding, godforsaken mountain road from Stockholm to Copenhagen, at 5:15 am, one of the buses flew into oncoming traffic. In addition to the band members, it included drum technician Flemming Larsen, guitar assistants John Marshall and Aidan Mullen, and road manager Bobby Schneider. As a result, the bus fell on the side of the road on its side.
Mullen and Larsen, sleeping on side bunks on the right side of the wall, spent three unforgettable hours under the rubble until firefighters pulled them out. Lars broke a finger, James escaped with scratches, and Kirk nearly had his eyes gouged out while sneaking through the side escape hatch. Bobby Schneider, the tour manager, sprained his arm. Cliff was half sticking out of the bus window. After some time, the bus tilted a little more and this pile of scrap metal crushed Barton, who was probably still alive by that time.
At Cliff Barton's wake at Maxwell Ranch, "Orion" was played, his swan song. Cliff was cremated. Friends and relatives took a handful of his ashes, spoke to him and threw them into the ground. A tree was planted in that place.
Maxwell Ranch is a remote forest cabin where Clif jammed with friends. There are recorded and unreleased songs there called "The Maxwell Ranch Tapes" featuring Jim Martin, Dave Donato, Puffy Bordin and Clif. Many Metallica and Faith No More songs came out of these sessions.
His first flame, Audrey Kimball, received one of his basses. And for Corinne, among his luggage, there was a necklace - a Celtic Cross. Corinne remained with Barton for almost a year after his death. Truly a faithful woman. Her further fate, unfortunately, is unknown.
John Marshall(John Marshall), Kirk Hammett's guitar technician. When James broke his wrist in 1986, Marshall performed his parts. He behaved with restraint, despite his height of 2 meters, rocked Master of Puppets riffs when Hetfield sang. In 1993, when James was burned by stage pyrotechnics, John replaced him again and played as many as 12 Metallica concerts across Europe. John Marshall was later a guitarist in the band Metal Church. Currently works at Mesa/Boogie. Considered to be the fifth member of Metallica. Suffering from diabetes.
Nothing is known about his personal life either.
Rock Robert Jens(Robert Jens Rock, 1954-04-19, Winnipeg, Kannada), better known by his shortened pseudonym Bob Rock. Hair color is white (blond).
Played in the group Payola$ (Bribe). The most famous hit is “Eyes of a Stranger” from the movie “Valley Girl” (with Nicolas Cage).
Since 1990, he has produced for Metallica “Black Album” (“Metallica”), “Load”, “ReLoad”, “Garage Inc.”, “S&M”, “St. Anger." On the latter, due to the departure of Jason Newsted, he performed all the bass parts. He can be called the fifth studio or session member of Metallica. He also recorded soundtracks for “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “Navy Seals,” “Mission: Impossible 2,” “Heavy Metal 2000” and of course the Metallica film “Some Kind of Monster.”
Angie's first wife. From her son Mike (Mick), born in 1980.
The other six children are from his second wife: Asia, Carly, Jonathon, Mandy, Lucy and Melody.
Newsted Jason Curtis(Jason Curtis Newsted, 1963-03-04), a native of Battle Creek, Michigan. Before Metallica, he played in all sorts of underground bands like Gangster, Dogz. In 1986, he went to an audition and was liked by Ulrich, Hetfield and Hammett. He stayed with Metallica right up until 2001, having recorded the first “Garage”, “And Justice for All”, the Black album “Metallica”, “Load” with “ReLoad”, the second “Garage” and “S&M”.
After Metallica he played in Echobrain, Papa Wheelie, Voivod, Rock Star Supernova. Sometimes he works as a session bassist for Ozzy Osbourne.
He met with a certain Elizabeth, who was much younger than him. They say that they often cheated on each other.
From 1986 to 1988, he lived with Lauren Collins, a college student from Phoenix.
From 1988 to 1991 he was married to Judy, his senior by several years. They got married in Illinois, but soon realized that the marriage was a mistake.
In 2000, he dated a certain Rachel, who seemed to be a Brazilian model with athletic appearance and a bad character. There were rumors that he met her at a ranch in Montana.
In October 2012, he married Nicole Smith (met in 2001).
Hetfield James Alan(James Alan Hetfield, 1963-08-03) native of Downey, California.
From 1983 to 1985, James's girlfriend was Leah Storkson, according to others
according to Leah Schechter. He met her when she was in the hospital and Ulrich, Hammett and Hetfield came to see her, along with her friend Rebecca Enrica Kestelyn, the future wife of Kirk and later Eric Peterson of Testament. Leah was also friends with Ron Quintana.
He married Francesca Tomasi in 1997, on August 17th. Born in Rosario, Argentina, born January 27, 1970. Eye color is blue. Hair color is white (blonde). Catholic. She studied at Overland High School in Aurora, Colorado (Overland High School, Aurora, Colorado, USA).
They have three children: Cali Tee Hetfield (1998-06-13), Castor Virgil Hetfield (2000-05-18 at 15:23) and Marcella (2002-01-17).
James said she worked as security in Denver but decided to continue traveling with Metallica. By the way, Francesca is the cousin of Eric Peterson, Testament guitarist.
Lars Ulrich(Lairs Ulrich, 1963-12-26), native of Gentoft, Denmark. Currently 166 cm tall.
Father Torben Ulrich, Danish tennis player, writer, musician and director (like a guy!, editor's note) was born 1928-10-04. In the 70s - 80s he participated in the Tennis Grand Masters tour, editor's translation. He fought for the Davis Cup many times. Lived in Seattle. Currently lives in Tiburon, California. In 2005, he founded the group “Instead Of”, which included cellist Lori Goldston, trumpeter and flautist Angelina Baldoz, drummer Jason Scott and Torben himself as vocalist.
From 1988 to 1990 he was married to Debbie Jones (English).
From 1997, from January 26 to March 2004, he was married to Skylar Satenstein (emergency doctor). The wedding ceremony was very modest and took place in Las Vegas. From her marriage, sons Myles Ulrich (1998-08-05) and Layne Ulrich (2001-05-06) were born. Lars himself said that they met in one of the New York bars and she had no idea who he was.
Interesting fact. Satenstein was the inspiration for "Skylar," Good Will Hunting's fetish - she and Matt Damon dated during college.
Later, Ulrich cohabited with the Danish actress Connie Inge-Lise Nielsen (Connie Inge-Lise Nielsen, 1965-07-03, a native of Frederikshavn, Denmark, starred in "Gladiator", "Soldier", "The Devil's Advocate"). In 2007, in the month of May, on the 21st, their son Bryce Thadeus Ulrich-Nielsen was born in San Francisco. Before Ulrich, first, in 1990, in the month of June, on the 2nd, Nielsen gave birth to a son, Sebastian.
In fact, Lars and Connie were never married. On one of the talk shows, the host says something like “you and your husband...”, and she says, “he’s not my husband, he’s my boyfriend,” and sits with a belly from Lars, about eight months old. Their relationship lasted until October 2012.
Ulrich's next passion was (Jessica Miller, born in 1985) - a model for all sorts of Vogue, H&M and others. Interestingly, she previously dated Brandon Boyd, guitarist for Incubuss, and later Daron Malakian, guitarist for System of a Down. She's attracted to rockers. Let's hope that after changing several previous ones, she will come to her senses and settle on the coolest drummer in all world rock music.
Hammett Kirk Lee(Kirk Lee Hammett 1962-11-18); native of San Francisco. Vegetarian. He is 171 cm tall. He often uses the nicknames The Ripper or Kirk Hampster. Buddhist.
Father is an Irish sailor, middle name unknown. The mother is Filipino, Teofila "Chefela" Oyao, a native of Cebu. Brother Rick. Tony's sister.
In 1987, on December 3rd, he married Rebecca Enrica Kestelyn and was married to her until 1990. Previously, Rebecca was married only once to Eric Peterson, guitarist from the band Testament. They have a child whose name, gender and date of birth have not been established.
Sometime in late June 2001, Rebecca was arrested in Petaluma, California for illegal driving. According to unconfirmed reports, Kirk and Rebecca's divorce was not completed and in the late 90s she received a sports car and some financial compensation from him. There are rumors that she has two children and takes drugs.
There is unconfirmed information that between 1995 and 1996, Kirk dated a girl named Sara, a law student.
In 1998, in January, on the 31st, at 2 pm local time, he married Lani Gruttadauro. One of the fans told Kirk that he worked at a funeral home and invited him to watch the autopsy. Hammett says that it was one of the first dates with his future wife, after which he realized that she was the one he was looking for. She has sons Angel Ray Keala Hammett (2006-09-26) and Vincenzo (Enzo, 2008-06-28).
Interesting fact. According to Rolling Stone magazine in 2003, he took 11th place among guitarists. Although among those currently alive, according to this list, he ranks 7th, behind BB King, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Page and Keith Richards. In 2011, this magazine showed us a new list, from which Kirk Hammett disappeared completely, but James Hetfield appeared. I made it all the way to the 87th line, dear. Apparently, in two years, Hat gave up all his vices and played furiously in the evenings and nights, not just what you thought, but guitar riffs. But Kirk fell into depression, began drinking and gambling. This is the only way to explain such radical changes. If you look at it like this, then on the basis of what the list was compiled is generally unclear, since, for example, it does not include such an outstanding guitarist as Joe Satriani. There is no Alvin Lee, no Billy Gibbons, no Igwie Malmstein. It seems that in our time, “Rolling Stone” are stones that have sunk to the very bottom. Well, God bless them.
Hunting
In his free time from music, James Hetfield kills animals - bears, deer and others.
Moreover, he is a member of the National Rifle Association of the United States, an organization that unites supporters of the right of citizens to carry firearms.
True, some guests of Metallica fan forums claim that Hetfield has given up hunting animals. Now he's preying on Justin Bieber fans.
Fishing is also one of the rock frontman's hobbies.
Skateboarding
While touring for the Master Of Puppets album (1986-1987), James Hetfield and guitarist Kirk Hammett took up skateboarding as an escape from the daily grind of touring.
During joint concerts between Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne, Hetfield and Hammett got part of Ozzy's team—the guitarist and technicians—on skateboards.
The band’s management was categorically against such fun on tour, so they warned: “If you break your limbs on the boards, we’ll force you to perform with broken limbs.”
That's what happened in '86 - Hetfield broke his arm. The concerts were not canceled - the frontman sang, and John Marshall, Hammett's then technician, took over his guitar parts.
In '87, Hetfield broke his arm again, causing the recording of the album "...And Justice for All" to be postponed and several shows of the "Monsters of Rock" tour to be canceled. Since then, Metallica's management has prohibited Hetfield from touching skateboards - this was officially stated in the musician's contract.
By the way, in the video game “Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD” (2012), a popular skateboard simulator, you can play as James Hetfield.
Snowboarding
Having settled down with skateboards, Hatfield switched to snowboards, since falling on the snow is not so fraught with injury. Since then, the typical “snowboarders vs. skiers” - the opponent is drummer and avid skier Lars Ulrich.
In 2006, James Hetfield narrated the lyrics for the documentary Let It Ride about legendary snowboarding revolutionary Craig Kelly. The work won the “Best Film” and “Best Soundtrack” awards (Metallica, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash and others are featured) at the X-Dance Film Festival, the world’s most prestigious film festival about extreme sports.
Avid snowboarders might be interested in seeing Papa Hat riding a Burton Custom 59 board in Superfly II 68 boots.
Water skiing/wakeboarding/jet scooters
There seems to be no extreme sport that Hetfield isn't interested in.
Once, while cutting through the waves on a wakeboard with Kid Rock, the Metallica frontman seriously injured his back, but no injury can stop the metal man.
Street hockey
Stick, puck, asphalt - Hatfield will beat you here too.
Tuning cars and motorcycles
Collecting vintage cars is Hatfield's special passion. He buys, tunes - sometimes alone, in his garage, sometimes together with craftsmen. When he has time, he participates in car shows or even organizes them.
The most special examples at our hero’s disposal are the 1936 Ford “Iron Fist”, the 1936 Auburn Sppedster (in 2010, this Hatfield baby won the annual tuning competition), and the 1956 Ford Pickup.
, Guitarist, Songwriter
James Alan Hetfield(English) James Alan Hetfield; genus. August 3, 1963), Downey, California USA) is the vocalist, rhythm guitarist and permanent leader of the American metal band Metallica. Since 2011, he has been ranked 87th on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest guitarists of all time. He has his own way of holding a pick with three fingers. He also has a strong, memorable voice and communication with the public.
James's father, Virgil Virgil, mind. in 1996), a bus driver who left the family when James was 13, and his mother, Cynthia. Cynthia), an opera singer, were followers of Mary Baker Eddy's Christian Science religious movement and, according to James, much of his early life was associated with Christianity.
Consistent with their beliefs, Hatfield's parents disapproved of medicine and any kind of medical intervention, and did not give up their faith even when Cynthia was dying of cancer (James was 16 years old at the time). As James himself said, at first there were no problems at school, but when they talked about medicine, he left such lessons. He began to distance himself from everyone when he noticed negotiations behind his back.
His mother's death and difficult relationship with religion later became the main themes of many Metallica songs ("Mama Said", "Dyers Eve" and "The God That Failed" are about Hetfield's parents, and "Until It Sleeps" is about cancer).
Music career
James began playing music at the age of 9 on the piano, then played drums for his brother Dave, and finally switched to guitar. His first group was the amateur team "Obsession". The band consisted of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums and Jim Arnold on guitar. Ron McGovney and Dave Marrs sat in the attic of the Veloz garage, clicking on the control panel for the lighting effects. The group played famous compositions of such groups as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. After Obsession broke up, Marrs, Hetfield and McGovney continued to play together.
After moving to La Brea, James attended Brea Olinda School and met drummer Jim Mulligan. Soon Hugh Tanner appeared and with him they created Phantom Lord. With Hugh on lead guitar and Jim on drums, James sang and played rhythm guitar. The band went through several bass players until James graduated from high school and moved back to Downey.
In Downey, James moved into a house owned by Ron McGovney's parents, which was to be demolished due to the expansion of the expressway. This house was the perfect place for James and Ron to get together and listen and play music. James persuaded Ron to play bass guitar and even promised to teach him.
James' third group, Leather Charm, consisted of former members of Phantom Lord. In addition to James and Ron, it included Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan. The Leather Charm group was more successful. She played her songs and covers, such as Quiet Riot Slick Black Cadillac And Remember Tomorrow Iron Maiden. The group managed to play in several concerts and recorded a demo, but began to fall apart. Tanner was the first to leave the group and was replaced by Troy James. Mulligan then left for another, more progressive group. Ultimately, Leather Charm fell apart.
The most important event in James' life was a meeting with a native of Denmark, drummer Lars Ulrich. Together they founded the band Metallica.
Accidents
James Hetfield is famous for the accidents that happened to him. During the tour in support of the album Master Of Puppets he broke his arm skateboarding. Then James was replaced for the first time by John Marshall, who was accompanying the group at that time. Later, in 1987, he broke his arm again, causing the recording of the album to be delayed. …And Justice for All, and canceled several shows on the upcoming Monsters of Rock '87 tour. Subsequently, James' contracts included a "No Skateboards" clause.
But perhaps the most famous incident was at a joint concert with Guns N' Roses in 1992 at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. During the performance of the song "Fade to Black", Hetfield walked over the pyrotechnic equipment at the moment it went off. As a result, James suffered second- and third-degree burns to his left arm and face and was forced to give up playing guitar. John Marshall from Metal Church was invited back to replace the rhythm guitarist for the duration of the tour. Before this concert, the pyrotechnicians informed the band that new special effects would be used during the performance of "Fade to Black": there would be fireworks along the edges of the stage. However, the pyrotechnicians forgot to warn that the old special effects would also remain. Confident that the previously announced special effects would not happen, James stood next to the pyrotechnic installation, and a column of flame 4 m high burned him on his left side.
Alcoholism rehabilitation
During the recording of the album St. Anger James Hetfield decided to undergo rehabilitation for alcoholism. The musician reduced his involvement in the recording process and returned to the studio to complete the disc eleven months after the course. James made his public appearance in 2003, when Metallica was nominated as MTV Icon of the Year.
After recording the album St. Anger in 2003, James suffered a serious ligament injury. Due to the use of Dropped C, a lower tuning than standard, on this album, James had to literally “spit out” the words, which resulted in problems with his voice. Gradually, James began to regain his voice, which can be heard when comparing newer live recordings with recordings from the St. Anger. A similar situation arose in 1991, when Hetfield lost his voice during a recording session. The Black Album. Then at concerts the band had to tune the guitars half a step lower to make it easier for James to sing.
Personal life
In his spare time, James enjoys hunting, collecting rare guitars, skateboarding, snowboarding, water skiing, working in his garage, watching his favorite team, the Oakland Raiders, and attending hot rod races. James enjoys the music of Black Sabbath, Venom, Motorhead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Ted Nugent.
He listed his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro for sale on eBay. The proceeds went to support the school's music program. The car was used in the video for the song “I Disappear” and was given to him as a gift after filming ended.
Hatfield married Francesca Tomasi. Francesca Tomasi) August 17, 1997, three children were born in her marriage: Kaylie (eng. Cali) (June 13, 1998), Castor (eng. Castor) (May 18, 2000) and Marcella (eng. Marcella) (January 17, 2002).
Guitars
James Hetfield owns a large number of guitars. His collection includes the following guitars:
Electric guitars
- Ken Lawrence Explorer
- Ken Lawrence Custom Les Paul
- Gibson Les Paul 57 Custom
- Gibson Les Paul Landers Style
- Gibson Explorer 1984
- Gibson Explorer 1976 "Rusty"
- Gibson Flying V
- Zemaitis Flying V
- James Trussart SteelDeville
- James Trussart SteelX Perforated
- ESP Iron Cross
- ESP JH-1
- ESP JH-2
- ESP JH-3
- ESP Snakebyte White
- ESP Snakebyte BLK
- ESP Explorer MX220 “Fuk’em up”
- ESP Explorer MX250 "Eet Fuk"
- ESP Explorer MX250 Black
- ESP Explorer MX250 White
- ESP Explorer MX250 "Man to wolf"
- ESP Explorer MX250 "Elk"
- ESP Explorer MX250 "Deer Skull"
- ESP Explorer MX250 "Papa Het"
- ESP LTD Grinch
- ESP Truckster
- ESP Black Truckster
- Gretsch White Falcon
- Fender Telecaster 1952
- Fender Telecaster with B-Bender
- Jackson King V "Kill Bon Jovi"
- Line 6 Acoustic Variax
- Gibson Chet Atkins
James Hetfield - photo
