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 Saved My Life as Self
- 2024 · Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self
- 2024 · The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2020 · Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away 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 Himself
- 2019 · Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self
- 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
- 2017 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Himself, Narrator
- 2016 · Billions as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Himself
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Himself
- 2014 · The Hunt as Narrator
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Himself
- 2013 · Metallica: Through the Never as Himself
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Himself
- 2010 · Metallica - Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 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
- 2005 · De Wereld Draait Door 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 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 1999 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1995 · The History of Rock 'n' Roll as Self
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 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)
- 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: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: Polar Beach Party as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Himself
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as SELF
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes as
- 2021 · Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2021 · Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Himself
- 2020 · MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Himself
- 2017 · Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals
- 2017 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2015 · Mission to Lars as Himself
- 2014 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Himself
- 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: 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
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · Absent 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 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 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Himself
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Himself
- 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")
- 2003 · Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals as Himself
- 2001 · Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1999 · Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- 1993 · Metallican Vid as Himself (Rhythm/Lead Vocal)
- 1991 · Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock as
- 1989 · Metallica - Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- 1989 · MTV Rockumentary as
- 1988 · Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- 1987 · Metallica - Cliff 'Em All as Himself (Guitarist / Vocalist)
- 1986 · Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1983 · Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Himself
- 2025 · Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans as Self
- 2025 · Metallica as
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Himself
- 2023 · Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Download Festival Germany as
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2020 · Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ as Himself
- 2020 · Flying V as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 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 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 · Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) as
- 2019 · Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 as
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as James Hetfield
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019 as
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Vocals, guitars
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2015 · Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 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 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 2011 · Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Sofia as Vocals, guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica: Live at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2008 as Himself
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 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 · Hard Rock Treasures as Self
- 2003 · Metallica: MTV Icon as Himself
- 1998 · Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1994 · Metallica: Woodstock '94 as
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1989 · 2 of One as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- 1985 · Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- Future · Metallica_ Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as
- 2025 · Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- 2022 · Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 as
- 2022 · Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self
- 2022 · Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo as
- 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 · Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction as
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 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 Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Himself
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Himself
- 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 in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017) as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 as
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 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 Live at Blizzcon as Himself
- 2008 · Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1993 · Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2012 · Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night) as
- 2011 · An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast as
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2010 · Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as James Hetfield
- 2009 · Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 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: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1994 · Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1993 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Mexico City 1993 The Film as
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: Live at San Diego as Himself
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 1986 · Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1986 · Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica: from the off as Self
- 1985 · Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Future · Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows(2021) as
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars