James Hetfield

Birthday: Aug 3, 1963
Birthplace: Downey, California, USA

Bio: James Alan Hetfield is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and a founding member of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield was 9 years old when he took his first piano lessons, before taking on his brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens. His main influence was Aerosmith and other bands such as Black… More Bio: James Alan Hetfield is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and a founding member of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield was 9 years old when he took his first piano lessons, before taking on his brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens. His main influence was Aerosmith and other bands such as Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Hetfield formed his first band, Obsession, in his early teens. During the recording of the St. Anger album, Hetfield went into rehab for alcoholism and other obsessive-compulsive behaviours arising from his depression. Alcohol had long been a problem for Hetfield; as it was the trap that kept him in depression that had affected him since childhood.