James Hetfield is the voice of Metallica, but it wasn't always planned that way... In the beginning, Metallica tried several different combinations of vocals and guitars. Some of the experiments included adding another guitarist. They even tried to invite John Bush from Armored Saint.
James was born a truck driver and opera singer on August 3, 1963 in Los Angeles. His family's Christianity and religiosity is often cited as James' root - the "tormented soul" lyrics in his poems and lyrics. He began to play music at the age of 9 with piano lessons, then played the drums of his brother David and finally moved on to the guitar.
First attempt to climb musical Olympus with his guitar in hand, James undertook the Obsession band. The band was made up of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums and Jim Arnold on guitar. A couple of friends, Ron McGoney and Dave Marrs, were also around the band. That meant sitting in the attic of the Veloz garage and fiddling with the lighting controls. After the collapse of Obsession, the Marrs-Hetfield-McGovney trio continued to play together.
Phantom Lord is the second band of James Hetfield. After moving to La Brea, James enrolled at Brea Olinda School and met drummer Jim Mulligan. Soon Hugh Tanner appeared... and after that came Phantom Lord. With Hugh on guitar and Jim on drums, James sang and played guitar. The band went through several bass players before James graduated from high school and moved back to Downey.
In Downey, James moved into a house owned by Ron McGoney's parents, which had to be demolished due to expressway expansion. This house was the perfect place for James and Ron to rumble, rock and play. James persuaded Ron to play bass and even promised to teach him... So Leather Charm was born.
The third group of James - Laether Charm - consisted of former members of Phantom Lord. In addition to James and Ron, Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan joined her.
Leather Charm was a more successful attempt. The band played their own songs and covers such as Quiet Riot's "Slick Black Cadillac" and "Remember Tomorrow" Iron Maiden. The band managed to play a few gigs and made a demo, but began to fall apart.
Tanner was the first to leave the group - was replaced by Troy James. Mulligan then left for a more progressive, Rush-like band. Eventually Leather Charm fell apart, James met Lars Ulrich and they formed new group- Metallica.
From the beginning, James has been Metallica's main songwriter, from riffs to lyrics. When he's not writing, singing, or playing at all, James indulges in hunting. He recently took up snowboarding as he threw away his favorite skateboard after a series of injuries.
Guitars are an important part of his life and he started collecting old guitars from 1963, the year he was born. It can also be found in the garage. He currently owns a Chevy BelAir that he built himself.
James Alan Hatfield was born on August 3, 1963 in California. He is the rhythm guitarist and vocalist for the thrash metal band Metallica. Hatfield was a founding member in October 1981. At the time, drummer Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a newspaper in Los Angeles looking for musicians for the band. IN musically The band's work was influenced by such well-known metal bands as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and others. Since then, Metallica has received eight Grammy awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four EPs, 24 music videos and 45 singles. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked 8th in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.
As for his guitars and equipment, James started out with a relatively cheap copy of the Gibson Flying V that he used on debut album Metallica "Kill 'em All" but soon replaced it with a pair of white 1984 Gibson Explorers that would serve him well on the next two albums. eventually led to James' own pickups being named "Het", released in 2009. Hatfield's guitar sound on early stage The creativity was the result of using a Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ as a preamp, driven by a 100W Marshall JCM800 for overdrive, while using a Roland JC120 for clean sound.
James Hetfield guitars
1969 Gibson SG Standard
James bought this guitar from his school friend who played with him in school jazz group. Hatfield used this guitar to write his first songs and to play in his first bands. What happened to this instrument after the creation of Metallica is unfortunately unknown, as by that time James had already started using other guitars.
This electric guitar was purchased in 1980 for $200. Hetfield used it on Metallica's first album Kill 'em All and continued to play it until 1984 when it was damaged during a concert. At that moment, the guitar was equipped with two Seymour Duncan Invader humbuckers and a Tune-o-Matic bridge.
Shortly before recording the album "Death Magnetic" in 2008, James decided to restore this guitar. It replaced some parts, including the pickups, which were replaced by the EMG 81/60 kit.
This guitar was used by James on the Master of Puppets album in 1985 and on the tour that followed. In mid-1985, the production of this copy of the King V was completed. Initially, the instrument was equipped with a Tune-o-Matic bridge, Seymour Duncan Invader pickups and had White color. In 1987, James removed the original pickups and replaced them with EMG 81/60s.
One of acoustic guitars James Hatfield. Used for the studio recording of the song "Mama Said" and some live performances.
ESP's first Hatfield guitar. He bought it just before the recording of the album "... And Justice For All" and used it as the main instrument for recording.
1973 Gibson Les Paul Custom
One of James' main guitars from the St. Anger. It was used both during the recording sessions in the studio and on the tour that followed the release of the album. The Les Paul Custom was released in 1973. guitar has distinctive features in the form of an image of a Maltese cross behind the bridge and a golden stripe above the pickups.
ESP/LTD Snakebyte
Snakebyte guitar model that James uses in Lately. She plays the role of the main guitar in concerts. The body and neck of the guitar are made of mahogany, while the fretboard is made of ebony.
Hunting
In my spare time from music James Hatfield kills animals - bears, deer and others.
Moreover, he is a member of the US National Rifle Association, an organization that unites supporters of the right of citizens to carry firearms.
True, some members of the Metallica fan forums claim that Hatfield has given up hunting animals. Now he's preying on Justin Bieber fans.
Fishing is also part of the rock frontman's hobbies.
skateboarding
While on tour with Master Of Puppets (1986-1987), James Hetfield and guitarist Kirk Hammett took up skating as an escape from the daily touring routine.
During the joint concerts of Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne, Hatfield and Hammett hooked on the skates part of Ozzy's team - guitarist and technicians.
The band's management was categorically against such fun on tour, so they warned: "If you break limbs on the boards, we will force you to perform with broken limbs."
That's what happened in '86 - Hatfield broke his arm. Concerts were not canceled - the frontman sang, and his guitar parts John Marshall, then Hammett's technician, took over.
In '87, Hatfield broke his hand again, which caused the recording of the album "...And Justice for All" to be postponed and several shows of the "Monsters of Rock" tour canceled. Since then, Metallica's management has banned Hetfield from touching skateboards - this was officially written into 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 skateboarding, Hatfield switched to snowboarding, as falling on the snow is not so fraught with injuries. Since then, the typical “snowboarders vs. skiers" - the opponent is the drummer and avid skier Lars Ulrich.
In 2006, James Hetfield narrated the lyrics for the Let It Ride documentary about legendary snowboarding revolutionary Craig Kelly. The work won awards Best movie" And " Best Soundtrack"(there are Metallica, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Johnny Cash and others) at the X-Dance Film Festival, the most prestigious extreme sports film festival in the world.
For avid snowboarders, Papa Hat rides a Burton Custom 59 board in Superfly II 68 boots.
Water skiing / wakeboarding / water scooters
It seems that there is no extreme sport that Hatfield would not be interested in.
Once, cutting through the waves on a wakeboard with Kid Rock, the Metallica frontman hurt his back, but no injury will stop the metal man.
street hockey
Stick, puck, asphalt - Hatfield will do you here too.
Tuning cars and motorcycles
Collecting retro cars is Hatfield's special passion. He buys, tunes - sometimes alone, in his garage, sometimes together with the masters. When there is time, he participates in car shows or even organizes them.
The most special specimens at the disposal of our hero are the 1936 Ford Iron Fist, the 1936 Auburn Sppedster (in 2010 this little Hatfield won the annual tuning competition), the 1956 Ford Pickup.
“The first time I went on tour sober was five years ago. Feelings are amazing! I think everything, I remember everything, I see the eyes of people in the hall, and not a blurry spot, and, most importantly, I understand who I am and what I'm doing here!
The story of Metallica frontman James Hetfield, born in 1963 in Los Angeles, is a classic, and therefore predictable from the very beginning. Family divorce, mother's death, moving to a neighboring town, new school hence the absolute isolation and mutual misunderstanding with classmates. The meaning of life was found in the guitar and soon in the bottle. Young Jimi knocked over a stack or two before going on stage to cope with excitement and shaking in his hands, and after a few years his hands were shaking all the time. At concerts, libations took place in every pause between songs, which did not interfere with creative development. Shortly after the release of Kill'em All, a much more serious contract was signed than the group deserved at that time.
Twisted Sister leader Dee Snyder recalled with horror joint concerts with Metallica in the summer of 1984: “One of them broke his leg on a drunken bench, jumping from a hotel window into the pool, and the other at that time almost burned the whole hotel!”
Three impeccable albums and uninterrupted tours elevated Metallica to heights unattainable in the heavy genre. The rise was not stopped by the death of bassist Cliff Burton.
The loss only made Hatfield, Ulrich and Hammett continue with even greater zeal, and drink even larger doses. “James could easily blow out a bottle of vodka without getting out of bed,” said Lars Ulrich. - Just like that, with nothing to do. Then pick up a guitar and write a genius riff like Master of Puppets!”
With the onset of the 90s, the degree was slightly lowered. In creativity, too. Extreme was replaced by experiments: songs inspired by blues and country, a project with symphony orchestra. In 2001, an avid hunter, James, skidded onto Far East. The bear added to the foreign tourist's collection on the very first day, and for the remaining two weeks he learned to drink Russian in a snowy dugout.
“From the drink was melted snow and vodka. We chose the second - no need to boil! When he returned, he went to a drug hospital, where it turned out that the rock star had a heap of schizophrenia. “A little more - and krants! Show at least one team that did not go through this! Another thing is that some people learn something, while others do not. Hatfield celebrated his 40th birthday with a glass of mineral water, proving that it is never too early to drink Borjomi and it is never too late for anyone. And he continues in the same spirit until now - with visits to a psychoanalyst.
drinking companions
LARS ULRICH
The founder of Metallica and Hatfield's drinking buddy recalls: “On tour, they drank so much that after the tour for three months they still met every morning with a bottle of champagne, or even something stronger. Or both at the same time!”
JIM MARTIN
"We were called Dr. H and M," Hatfield says of Faith No More's guitarist. - We all prescribed medicine: “Problems? Cough? The doctors will help!” One took out a glass, the other a bottle - and began to treat!
Ozzy Osbourne
James met his idol on tour, and in six months they drank more than one liter of vodka. Three years later, Ozzy visited Russia, after which he went to rehab. Hatfield was waiting for the same fate - however, much later. But Ozzy is older too!
Genius against drinking
1983 In anticipation of the recording of the debut album Kill'em All, the impresario provided the band with a roof for free (for nothing). But then he threw the musicians out into the street when they drank all the master's money and emptied the home bar, including the champagne that had been stored from the wedding day.
1984-1985 Metal Hammer magazine publishes pictures of Metallica with a two-meter inflatable Smirnoff bottle. But the photo session went down in history by no means as a sham dream of an alcoholic, but with its name - “Alcoholica”. So Hatfield and company called their team among themselves.
1986 Tour America with Ozzy. Hatfield tried not to hit the salad face in front of the childhood idol and Drunk with capital letter and with great experience. “We went on stage first, played for about an hour - and immediately to the hotel, to the bar,” Hatfield recalls. - By the time Ozzy returned, we had already managed to get drunk, oversleep and get drunk again!
1987-1991 The Metallica name is already rattling around the world. James receives real money for the first time, makes the first major purchases: cars, real estate. Daily purchases remain the same: Heineken, Jagermeister, Smirnoff. Alcoholism progresses along with success. Favorite drinks are included in the thank you lists on discs. The swollen faces of Hatfield & Co. And Justice for All's cover looks more like shots from a drug dispensary than from a number one metal band.
1992-2000 Metallica is the most successful metal band of all time. The quartet no longer advertise their friendship with the green serpent. But Hatfield's drinking situation is spiraling out of control.
2001-2008 For six months he ends up in a rehabilitation clinic. Which, by the way, comes as a big surprise to the rest of the Metallica musicians, who coped with the problems on their own. Metallica releases a great comeback album Death Magnetic.
2011-2016 Metallica members meet Lou Reed and record joint album Lulu, which puzzles the fans. Launches a line of guitars with Kirk Hammett. Trains new album and doesn't drink.
, Guitarist , Songwriter
James Alan Hatfield(English) James Alan Hetfield; genus. August 3, 1963), Downey, California USA) is the vocalist, rhythm guitarist and longtime leader of the American metal band Metallica. Since 2011, he has been ranked 87th in the list of the greatest guitarists of all time according to the magazine. Rolling stone. He has his own way of holding the plectrum with three fingers. He also has a strong, memorable voice and communication with the public.
James' father, Virgil Virgil, mind. in 1996), a bus driver who left the family when James was 13, and his mother, Cynthia (b. Cyntia), Opera singer, were followers religious movement Christian Science Mary Baker Eddy and, according to James, much of his early life was associated with Christianity.
In keeping with their beliefs, Hatfield's parents disapproved of medicine and any form of medical intervention, and did not back down from their faith even when Cynthia was dying of cancer (James was 16 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 move away from everyone when he noticed the negotiations behind him.
death of mother and complex relationship to religion later became the main themes of many songs by Metallica ("Mama Said", "Dyers Eve" and "The God That Failed" are about Hatfield's parents, and "Until It Sleeps" is about cancer).
Musical career
James began to play music at the age of 9 on the piano, then played the drums of his brother Dave, and finally switched to the guitar. His first band was the amateur band "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, fiddling with the lighting controls. The band played famous compositions bands like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. After Obsession broke up, Marrs, Hatfield and McGovney continued to play together.
After moving to La Brea, James enrolled at 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 bassists before James graduated from high school and moved back to Downey.
In Downey, James moved into a house owned by the parents of Ron McGovney, which had to be demolished due to the expansion of the expressway. This house was perfect place for James and Ron to get together and listen and play music. James persuaded Ron to play the bass guitar and even promised to teach him.
James's third band, Leather Charm, consisted of former Phantom Lord members. 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 like Quiet Riot Slick Black Cadillac And Remember Tomorrow Iron Maiden. The band managed to play a few gigs and recorded demos, but began to fall apart. Tanner was the first to leave the band and was replaced by Troy James. Then Mulligan left for another, more progressive group. Ultimately, Leather Charm fell apart.
The most important event in the life of James was a meeting with a native of Denmark, drummer Lars Ulrich. Together they founded the band Metallica.
Accidents
James Hetfield is famous for his accidents. During the tour in support of the album Master Of Puppets he broke his arm while riding a skateboard. Then James was replaced for the first time, at that time accompanying the group, John Marshall. Later, in 1987, he broke his arm again, which delayed the recording of the album. …And Justice for All, and several shows on the upcoming Monsters of Rock'87 tour have been cancelled. Subsequently, the clause "No skateboards" appeared in James' contracts.
But perhaps the most famous is the case 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 walked over the pyrotechnic equipment at the moment when it went off. As a result, James received second- and third-degree burns to his left hand and face and was forced to give up playing the guitar. Instead of a rhythm guitarist, John Marshall from Metal Church was again invited for the duration of the tour. Prior to 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 around the edges of the stage. However, the pyrotechnicians forgot to warn that the old special effects will also remain. Being sure that there would be no previously announced special effects, James stood next to the pyrotechnic installation, and a column of flame 4 m high burned him on the left side.
Rehabilitation from alcoholism
During the recording of the album St. Anger James Hetfield decided to go to rehab for alcoholism. The musician reduced his participation 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 for MTV Icon of the Year.
After recording the album St. Anger In 2003, James suffered a serious ligament injury. Due to the lower than standard Dropped C tuning used on this album, James had to literally "spit out" the words, which caused problems with his voice. Gradually, James began to regain his voice, which can be heard comparing newer live recordings with recordings from the St. Anger. A similar situation arose in 1991 when Hatfield lost his voice while recording The Black Album. Then, at concerts, the band had to rebuild the guitars half a step lower, so that it would be easier for James to sing.
Personal life
IN free time James enjoys hunting, collecting rare guitars, skateboarding, snowboarding, water skiing, garage work, watching his favorite Oakland Raiders play, and attending hot rod races. James enjoys music from Black Sabbath, Venom, Motorhead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Ted Nugent.
He put his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro up for sale on eBay. The proceeds went to support the musical school curriculum. The car was used in the video for the song "I Disappear" and he got it as a gift after filming was over.
Hatfield married Francesca Tomasi. Francesca Tomasi) On August 17, 1997, three children were born in a marriage with her: Caylee (Eng. Cali) (June 13, 1998), Castor (Eng. castor) (May 18, 2000) and Marcella (Eng. Marcella) (January 17, 2002).
guitars
James Hetfield is the owner a large number guitars. His collection includes the following guitars:
electric guitars
- Ken Lawrence Explorer
- Ken Lawrence Custom Les Paul
- Gibson Les Paul 57
- Gibson Les Paul 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
- 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
