James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time. This page is based on a Wikipedia article written by contributors. Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self
- 2024 · The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- 2022 · Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction as
- 2020 · Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Himself
- 2020 · History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
- 2019 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Himself
- 2019 · Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 as
- 2019 · Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as James Hetfield
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019 as
- 2019 · Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward
- 2018 · Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician
- 2017 · Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage)
- 2017 · Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017) as
- 2017 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 as
- 2017 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Himself, Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 2016 · Billions as Himself
- 2015 · Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · Metallica - Live at Reading Festival as Vocals, Guitars
- 2015 · Randy Johnson: The Big Picture as
- 2015 · Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · Metallica: Rock in Rio USA 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Himself
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Glastonbury Festival as
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Himself
- 2013 · Metallica: Through the Never as Himself
- 2013 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2013 as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 2012 · Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night) as
- 2012 · Metallica: The Black Album as
- 2012 · Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2011 · Absent as Himself
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2010 · The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as James Hetfield
- 2010 · Metallica - Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2008 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Himself
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Himself
- 2007 · Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- 2007 · Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets as
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Fan #1 (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Sniper (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Troll (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Lorkey (voice)
- 2006 · The Darwin Awards as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2006 · Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2005 · De Wereld Draait Door as Self
- 2005 · Hard Rock Treasures as Self
- 2005 · American Dad! as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- 2004 · Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: MTV Icon as Himself
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2001 · Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2000 · Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- 1999 · Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1995 · The History of Rock 'n' Roll as Self
- 1994 · Metallica: Woodstock '94 as
- 1994 · Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Later... with Jools Holland as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica as Self
- 1992 · The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: Live at San Diego as Himself
- 1992 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- 1991 · Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock as
- 1989 · The Simpsons as William Rieflin (voice)
- 1989 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · Metallica - Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · 2 of One as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica - Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self
- 1983 · Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- Future · Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Himself
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Himself
- 2023 · Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self
- 2022 · Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 as
- 2022 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as SELF
- 2022 · Metallica Download Festival Germany as
- 2022 · Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo as
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica: Black Album Deluxe Box Set as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes as
- 2020 · MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- 2020 · Flying V as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2020 · Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- 2019 · Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals
- 2017 · Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2017 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Vocals, guitars
- 2015 · Mission to Lars as Himself
- 2014 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2014 · The Hunt as Narrator
- 2014 · Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" as Self
- 2013 · Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 2013 · Surfing Your Dreams as
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2011 · An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast as
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Himself
- 2010 · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · METALLICA the Complete Story as Himself
- 2008 · Metallica: Making Magnetic as
- 2008 · Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica: Live at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2008 as Himself
- 2007 · Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Himself
- 2006 · Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- 2006 · Metallica: Live in Seoul 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2005 · The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
- 2003 · Metallica: St. Anger as Himself
- 1999 · Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1993 · Metallican Vid as Himself (Rhythm/Lead Vocal)
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 1988 · Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 1987 · Metallica - Cliff 'Em All as Himself (Guitarist / Vocalist)
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 1985 · Metallica: [1985] Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Future · Metallica_ Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as
- 2009 · Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Newark, Delaware as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- Future · Metallica: from the off as Self
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars