JAMES HETFIELD
For a guy who didn't want to be a singer, James Hetfield has made a decent fist
of fronting Metallica to worldwide glory. Hetfield wears his angst and fury on the
outside when he's on stage - a big, tall man with ratty blond locks and a Fu Manchu
beard, clad in all black, legs splayed apart, right arm chopping down at his guitar, eyes
open wide, lyrics spat from a curling lip. Off stage, a more laconic persona taks over;
Hetfield enjoys shooting pool with his mates, listening to country and western music
and hunting. The trappings of stardom so beloved by Lars Ulrich are laughed at by
Hetfield.
Just 18 years old when he first met Lars Ulrich, Hetfield had been raised in the
Christian Scientist faith but was possessed of a rebellious streak that still runs
through him. He had been interested in music from an early age, and had trained for
two years in classical piano before he was given the traditional rock 'n' roll start - a
cheap guitar bought by his mum! He got into Black Sabbath and Van Halen, and had
his first taste of the rock 'n' roll live experience at one of AC/DC's LA shows.
Hetfield fooled around with high school bands, playing all the usual covers,
but soon found that writing his own material was far more satisfying. He was already
looking for the step ahead when he met Lars Ulrich and had the carrot of a track on
the "Metal Massacre" album dangled under his nose.
