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 · Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- 2025 · Metallica Saved My Life 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 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as SELF
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2021 · Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction as
- 2020 · Flying V as Self
- 2020 · History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as Self
- 2017 · Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 as
- 2017 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Billions as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Self
- 2013 · Metallica: Through the Never as Self
- 2013 · Surfing Your Dreams as
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2010 · Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- 2008 · Metallica: Making Magnetic as
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 2007 · The Darwin Awards as Self
- 2007 · Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets as
- 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 · Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Later... with Jools Holland as Self
- 1989 · The Simpsons as William Rieflin (voice)
- 1989 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · 2 of One as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1988 · Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1984 · MTV Video Music Awards as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 2025 · Ozzy: No Escape from Now 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 · Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self
- 2022 · Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo as
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 as Self
- 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 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
- 2019 · Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward
- 2018 · Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2015 · Mission to Lars 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 · Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast as
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as Self
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 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 - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Himself
- 2007 · Seven Ages of Rock as Self
- 2006 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2006 · Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2006 · Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self
- 2005 · Hard Rock Treasures as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: MTV Icon as Self
- 1999 · Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow as
- 1992 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 1985 · Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 2025 · Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Polar Beach Party as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- 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
- 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 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Self - vocals, guitars
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Himself, Narrator
- 2015 · Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Self
- 2014 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as Self (voice)
- 2014 · The Hunt as Self - Narrator (voice)
- 2014 · Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" as Self
- 2012 · Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: The Black Album as
- 2011 · Absent as Himself
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Himself
- 2010 · The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2009 · Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · METALLICA the Complete Story as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Self
- 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
- 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
- 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: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 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 Self
- 1992 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1991 · Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock as
- 1989 · Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as
- 1986 · Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis as Self
- Future · Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021 as
- 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: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Download Festival Germany as
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2020 · MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- 2020 · Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ 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 Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 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 Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 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 · Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- 2019 · Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 as
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as Self
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 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
- 2017 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 2015 · Randy Johnson: The Big Picture as
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Self
- 2013 · Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 2012 · Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night) as
- 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: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- 2006 · Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- 2005 · The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
- 2000 · Metallica: Live in Baltimore as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- 1993 · Metallican Vid as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
- 1989 · Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1987 · Metallica: Cliff 'Em All as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- 1983 · Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica: from the off as Self
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Self