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 · The Thicket as Simon Deasy
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Self
- 2022 · Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head as James Hetfield (voice)
- 2022 · Ennio as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Self
- 2020 · History 101 as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self
- 2019 · Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019 as
- 2019 · Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward
- 2017 · Carpool Karaoke: The Series as Self
- 2016 · Skylanders Academy as Wolfgang (voice)
- 2016 · Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2016 · Metallica: The Night Before as
- 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
- 2011 · Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self
- 2011 · An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast as
- 2011 · The Big 4 as Self
- 2010 · The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars
- 2010 · Lemmy as Self
- 2009 · Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- 2007 · The Darwin Awards 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 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
- 2004 · Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2000 · Woodstock '99 as
- 1999 · Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self
- 1997 · Classic Albums as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 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
- 1990 · Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands as
- 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 · Metallica: from the off as Self
- Future · Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis 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
- 2023 · Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Self
- 2023 · Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self
- 2022 · Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 as
- 2020 · MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains as Self
- 2020 · Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away as Self
- 2020 · Flying V as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 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
- 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
- 2018 · Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician
- 2017 · Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage)
- 2017 · Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017) as
- 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 · Cum On Feel The Noize as Self
- 2015 · Mission to Lars as Self
- 2014 · Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Self
- 2014 · 'Tallica Parking Lot as Self (voice)
- 2014 · Metallica: This Monster Lives as Self
- 2013 · Surfing Your Dreams as
- 2012 · Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Metallica: The Black Album as
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2012 · Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self
- 2011 · Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar
- 2011 · Absent 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: Français pour une nuit as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 2006 · Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- 2006 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars
- 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")
- 2003 · Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals as Self
- 2001 · Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1996 · Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self
- 1994 · Metallica: Woodstock '94 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 · Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self
- 1991 · Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock as
- Future · Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self
- 1992 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Future · Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden as
- 2025 · Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer as Self
- 2022 · Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 as
- 2022 · Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as Self
- 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
- 2021 · Metallica: Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars
- 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 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 Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Self
- 2020 · Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 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 at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar
- 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 · Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator
- 2016 · Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct as
- 2016 · Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- 2015 · Randy Johnson: The Big Picture as
- 2014 · Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2014 · Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning 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
- 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
- 2012 · Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars
- 2010 · Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2009 · Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2008 · METALLICA the Complete Story as Self
- 2008 · Metallica: Making Magnetic as
- 2008 · Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self
- 2008 · Metallica Touring Europe as
- 2007 · Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar
- 2006 · Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars
- 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
- 1994 · Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1992 · Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars
- 1992 · Metallica: Live at San Diego as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · 2 of One as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- 1987 · Metallica: Cliff 'Em All as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- Future · Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] as
- 1986 · Metallica: Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1972 · Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self
- Future · Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Self
- Future · Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica
- 2025 · Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '96 as Self
- 2025 · Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances) 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
- 2022 · Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo as
- 2021 · Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 as
- 2021 · Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self
- 2021 · Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 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 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 Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals
- 2019 · Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 as
- 2017 · Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals
- 2017 · Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars
- 2016 · Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Self - vocals, guitars
- 2016 · Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Self / Narrator
- 2015 · Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2014 · Metallica: Masters of Metal as Self
- 2014 · Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Self
- 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
- 2008 · Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2008 · Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2007 · Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Self
- 2007 · Metallica - Live Earth as Self
- 2005 · Hard Rock Treasures as Self
- 2000 · Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 2000 · Metallica: Live in Baltimore as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- 1999 · Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self
- 1998 · Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- 1995 · Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars
- 1993 · Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars
- 1989 · Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1989 · Metallica: Newark, Delaware as Self
- 1989 · Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 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: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars
- 1986 · Metallica: Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars
- 1985 · Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self
- 1983 · Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- 1983 · Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars
- Future · Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021 as
- Future · Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge as




