James Hetfield Biography

Fast Facts

• Has been named Rolling Stone magazine's 87th greatest guitarist of all time
• Started the band Metallica after answering a 1981 classified ad by drummer Lars Ulrich
• Was inspired to become a musician after listening to the likes of bands Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath
• Is best known as a guitarist and singer for the rock band Metallica
• Based the Metallica song "Enter Sandman" on his nightmares as a child
• Provided background vocals to the Corrosion of Conformity song "Man or Ash․"
• Wrote the song "The God That Failed" after his mother died of cancer