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
- 2026 · Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow as Self
- 2026 · Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 2 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2026 · Metallica: M72 Tour - Budapest, Day 1 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2025 · Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer as Self
- 2025 · Ozzy: No Escape from Now as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans as Self
- 2025 · Metallica Saved My Life as Self
- 2024 · Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self
- 2024 · The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- 2022 · Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 as
- 2022 · Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2022 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as Self
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows (Night 1&2) - Live at Chase Center as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 as Self
- 2020 · MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Self
- 2020 · History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as Self
- 2020 · Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- 2019 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Self
- 2019 · Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 as
- 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 · Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017) as
- 2017 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2017 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Self / Narrator
- 2016 · Billions as Metallica
- 2015 · Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self - Musical Guest
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Self
- 2014 · The Hunt as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Self
- 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 · Metallica: Through the Never as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2011 · Absent as Self
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Self
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2008 · METALLICA the Complete Story as Self
- 2008 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- 2007 · The Darwin Awards as Self
- 2007 · Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- 2006 · Metallica Korea as
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Fan #1 (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Lorkey (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Troll (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Sniper (voice)
- 2006 · Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self
- 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 · Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 5 as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: MTV Icon as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2000 · Woodstock '99 as
- 1999 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- 1999 · Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · 1999 Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Poor East Asian Me - Live at Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South Korea as Self
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1994 · Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Metallican Vid as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
- 1993 · Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow as
- 1992 · Later... with Jools Holland as Self
- 1992 · Later... with Jools Holland as
- 1992 · The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: Live at San Diego as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1991 · Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock as
- 1989 · Heavy Metal Heaven Hosted by Elvira as Himself - Metalica
- 1989 · The Simpsons as William Rieflin (voice)
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as
- 1987 · Metallica: Cliff 'Em All as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self
- Future · Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Polar Beach Party as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) as Self
- 2022 · Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo as
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2020 · Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
- 2019 · Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 as
- 2019 · Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self
- 2017 · Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage)
- 2017 · Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2017 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Self - vocals, guitars
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2015 · Metallica: Freeze 'Em All as Self
- 2015 · Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2014 · Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: The Black Album as
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2010 · The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 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 Rehearsals as Self
- 2001 · Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1994 · Metallica: Woodstock '94 as
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica as Self
- 1992 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1989 · 2 of One as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1986 · Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge as
- 1985 · Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self
- 2022 · Metallica Download Festival Germany as
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2021 · Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ as Self
- 2020 · Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction as
- 2020 · Flying V as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006 as Cast
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as Self
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 2015 · Mission to Lars as Self
- 2015 · Randy Johnson: The Big Picture as
- 2015 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as Self
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Self
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Self
- 2013 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2013 · Surfing Your Dreams as
- 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: Live at Rock im Park 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2011 · Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- 2010 · Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2008 · Metallica: Making Magnetic as
- 2008 · Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2007 · Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets as
- 2006 · Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2000 · Metallica: Live in Baltimore as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 1985 · Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- 2000 · Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1988 · Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica: Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 1989 · Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica: from the off as Self
- 1986 · Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar