James Hetfield

Metal Singer

Birthday August 3, 1963

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Downey, CA

Age 61 years old

#2,814 Most Popular

About

Co-founder of the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Metallica who was named the eighth greatest metal guitarist by Joel Mclver in 2009. He is joined in Metallica by bassist Robert Trujillo, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Kirk Lee Hammett

Before Fame

His favorite band growing up was Aerosmith, from whom he drew inspiration to learn the guitar. He learned how to play guitar, bass, and piano. 

Trivia

He observed his mother die of cancer without medicine when he was sixteen because of her strong belief in Christian Science, an event that inspired the Metallica song "The God That Failed." 

Family Life

He married his wife Francesca on August 17, 1997, with whom he had three children: Cali, Castor, and Marcella. He filed for divorce from Francesca in August 2022. 

Associated With

He first met Lars Ulrich after answering a 1981 classified ad placed by Ulrich in The Recycler. 

Video

James Hetfield Highlights
James Hetfield Highlights