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
- 2025 · Ozzy: No Escape from Now as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Polar Beach Party as Self
- 2024 · Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self
- 2024 · The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- 2022 · Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2020 · History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- 2019 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Self
- 2019 · Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self
- 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 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2017 · Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Billions as Self
- 2015 · Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as Self
- 2014 · The Hunt as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2013 · Metallica: Through the Never as Self
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast as
- 2011 · Absent as Self
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Self
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2007 · The Darwin Awards as Self
- 2007 · Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- 2007 · Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets as
- 2006 · Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Fan #1 (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Lorkey (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Troll (voice)
- 2006 · Metalocalypse as Sniper (voice)
- 2005 · De Wereld Draait Door as Self
- 2005 · American Dad! as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2000 · Woodstock '99 as
- 1999 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Metallican Vid as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
- 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
- 1989 · The Simpsons as William Rieflin (voice)
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- Future · Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow as Self
- Future · Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis as Self
- 2025 · Metallica Saved My Life as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as Self
- 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 · Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away 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 Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Self
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 as
- 2017 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2017 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Self / Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · Mission to Lars as Self
- 2015 · Randy Johnson: The Big Picture as
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Self
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Self
- 2014 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as Self (voice)
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2014 · Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" as Self
- 2013 · Surfing Your Dreams as
- 2012 · Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: The Black Album as
- 2011 · Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2010 · The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Self
- 2006 · Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self
- 2005 · The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
- 2004 · Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals as Self
- 2001 · Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1998 · Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- 1992 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- Future · Metallica: from the off as Self
- 1999 · Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1998 · Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1992 · For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow as
- 1989 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self
- 2022 · Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 as
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 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: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 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 Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Self
- 2019 · Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 as
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as Self
- 2017 · Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 2014 · Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Self
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Self
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Self
- 2013 · Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 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
- 2008 · METALLICA the Complete Story as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- 2006 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2005 · Hard Rock Treasures as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: MTV Icon as Self
- 2000 · Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1994 · Metallica: Woodstock '94 as
- 1994 · Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- 1993 · Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 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 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 1988 · Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 1987 · Metallica: Cliff 'Em All as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- 1986 · Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 2025 · Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) as Self
- 2022 · Metallica at Lollapalooza 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 1) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2021 · Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes as
- 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 in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 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 Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
- 2019 · Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 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
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Self - vocals, guitars
- 2015 · Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as Self
- 2010 · Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica: Making Magnetic as
- 2008 · Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2000 · Metallica: Live in Baltimore as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 1989 · Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1989 · 2 of One as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1985 · Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- Future · Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021 as
- Future · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge as