James Hetfield
Biography
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
The Simpsons
American Dad!
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Billions
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
MTV Video Music Awards
De Wereld Draait Door
All Movies (193)
- Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer2025 · as Self
- Ozzy: No Escape from Now2025 · as Self
- Back to the Beginning: Ozzy's Final Bow2025 · as Self
- Metallica: Studio Shit + U.K. Shenanigans2025 · as Self
- Metallica: Polar Beach Party2025 · as Self
- Metallica: Poor Swedish Me '962025 · as Self
- Metallica: On the Air (Music Videos + TV Appearances)2025 · as Self
- Metallica Saved My Life2025 · as Self
- Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction2024 · as Self
- The Thicket2024 · as Simon Deasy
- Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 22023 · as Self
- Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 12023 · as Self
- Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 22023 · as Self
- Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere2023 · as Self
- Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert2022 · as Self
- Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 20222022
- Metallica at Lollapalooza 20222022 · as self
- Metallica Live Hellfest 20222022 · as Self
- Metallica Download Festival Germany2022
- Metallica: Campo Argentino de Polo2022
- Ennio2022 · as Self
- Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2)2021 · as vocals, guitars
- Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1)2021 · as vocals, guitars
- Metallica: Wherever We May Roam2021 · as vocals, guitars
- Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes2021
- Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies2021
- Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 19912021 · as Self
- Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 19932021
- Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 19922021
- Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit2021 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 20182021 · as Self
- MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains2020 · as Self
- Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ2020 · as Self
- Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction2020
- Phil Lynott: Songs for While I'm Away2020 · as Self
- Flying V2020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 20172020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 20112020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 20042020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 20002020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 20062020 · as Cast
- Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 20072020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 19992020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 20082020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 20132020 · as Self
- Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 20192020 · as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 19972020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 20142020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 19832020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 20122020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991)2020 · as Self
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 20152020 · as vocals
- Metallica: Live at Slane Castle2020 · as lead vocals, guitar
- Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets2020 · as Self
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M22019 · as Self
- Metallica : Live in Moscow 20192019
- Metallica - Live in Berlin 20192019
- Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story2019 · as Self
- Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 20192019 · as Self
- Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 20192019
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile2019 · as Officer Bob Hayward
- Sad Hill Unearthed2018 · as Self - Musician
- Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington2017 · as Self (archive footage)
- Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 20172017
- Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 20172017 · as vocals
- Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017)2017
- Who the Fuck Is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago2017 · as Self
- Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 20172017
- Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 20172017 · as Vocals, Guitars
- Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly2017 · as Narrator
- Cum On Feel The Noize2017 · as Self
- Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct2016
- Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos2016 · as Voice & Rithm Guitar
- Metallica: Live from The House of Vans2016 · as Self - vocals, guitars
- Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey2016 · as Self / Narrator
- Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley2016 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: The Night Before2016
- Mission to Lars2015 · as Self
- Metallica: Rock in Rio 20152015 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Randy Johnson: The Big Picture2015
- Metallica: [2015] X Games2015 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 20152015 · as Self
- Metallica: Masters of Metal2014 · as Self
- Metallica Live at Blizzcon2014 · as Self
- Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II2014 · as Self
- 'Tallica Parking Lot2014 · as Self (voice)
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 20142014 · as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: This Monster Lives2014 · as Self
- Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning2014 · as Self
- Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never"2014 · as Self
- Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica2013 · as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Through the Never2013 · as Self
- Surfing Your Dreams2013
- Metallica: Quebec Magnetic2012 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night)2012
- Metallica: Live in Orion Music Festival2012 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: The Black Album2012
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 20122012 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 20122012 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Rock in Rio2012 · as Vox, Guitars
- Anton Corbijn Inside Out2012 · as Self
- Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event2011 · as Self
- An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast2011
- Metallica: Rock In Rio 20112011 · as Vocal, Guitar
- Absent2011 · as Self
- Metallica: Fan Can 62010 · as Vocals, Guitars
- The Big Four: Live in Sofia2010 · as Guitars
- Metallica: The Big 4 Live in Sofia2010 · as Vocals, guitars
- Metallica: Live at Sonisphere2010 · as Self
- Metallica: Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set)2010 · as Self
- Lemmy2010 · as Self
- Metallica: Pride, Passion and Glory - Three Nights in Mexico City2009 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Hall of Fame 20092009 · as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen2009 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 20092009 · as Self - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
- Metallica: Français pour une nuit2009 · as Self - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- METALLICA the Complete Story2008 · as Self
- Metallica: Making Magnetic2008
- Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival2008 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica - Rock AM Ring2008 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash2008 · as Self
- Metallica Touring Europe2008
- Metallica: Up Close and Personal2007 · as Self
- Metallica - Live Earth2007 · as Self
- Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 20072007 · as Singer,Guitar
- The Darwin Awards2007 · as Self
- Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets2007
- Metallica: The Videos 1989-20042006 · as Vocalist, Guitarrist
- Metallica Korea2006
- Metallica: Rock AM Ring 20062006 · as Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Fan Can 52006 · as Vocals, Guitars
- Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life2006 · as Self
- The Work of Director Anton Corbijn2005 · as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said")
- Hard Rock Treasures2005 · as Self
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster2004 · as Self
- Saturday Night Live: 25 Years of Music Vol. 52003 · as Self
- Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals2003 · as Self
- Metallica: MTV Icon2003 · as Self
- Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica2001 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland2000 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live in Baltimore2000 · as Self - Vocals/Guitar
- Woodstock '992000
- Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M1999 · as Self
- Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M1999 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: Making of S&M1999 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: Woodstock '991999 · as Self
- Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria1999 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Cunning Stunts1998 · as Self
- Metallica: Live Covers1998 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Fan Can 11996 · as Self
- Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret1995 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica: Woodstock '941994
- Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 19941994 · as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
- Metallican Vid1993 · as Self - Rhythm/Lead Vocal
- Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland1993 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile1993 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Mexico City, Mexico1993 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands1992 · as Vox, Guitars
- For Those About to Rock - Monsters In Moscow1992
- Metallica: A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica1992 · as Self
- The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert1992 · as Self
- Metallica: Live at San Diego1992 · as Self
- Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 19921992 · as Self - Guitar, Vocals
- Metallica - ...And Justice For All1992 · as Self
- Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock1991
- Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands1990
- Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 19891989 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre1989 · as Self
- Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 19891989 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Newark, Delaware1989 · as Self
- Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY1989 · as Vox, Guitars
- 2 of One1989 · as Self (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal)
- Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon1988 · as Self - Vocals, Guitars
- Metallica: Cliff 'Em All1987 · as Self - Guitarist / Vocalist
- Metallica: [1986] Toronto, Canada1986 · as Self - Vocals, Guitar
- Metallica: Nagoya, Japan1986 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica - Roskilde Festival1986 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY1986 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Detroit, Michigan1986 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Metal Hammer Festival1985 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: Day on the Green1985 · as Vox, Guitars
- Metallica: Ride The Lightning1985 · as Self
- Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 19831983 · as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
- Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone1983 · as Vox, Guitars
- Deep Purple: Made In Japan1972 · as Self
- Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo— · as Self
- Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden—
- Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album— · as Self - Metallica
- Metallica: from the off— · as Self
- Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu— · as Self
- Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore]—
- Metallica: 40th Anniversary Shows Live at Chase Center 2021—
- Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge—
All TV Shows (25)
- Mike Judge's Beavis and Butt-Head2022 · as James Hetfield (voice)
- History 1012020 · as Self (archive footage)
- Carpool Karaoke: The Series2017 · as Self
- Skylanders Academy2016 · as Wolfgang (voice)
- Billions2016 · as Metallica
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015 · as Self - Musical Guest
- The Hunt2014 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
- The Big 42011 · as Self
- Seven Ages of Rock2007 · as Self
- Metalocalypse2006 · as Fan #1 (voice)
- Metalocalypse2006 · as Lorkey (voice)
- Metalocalypse2006 · as Troll (voice)
- Metalocalypse2006 · as Sniper (voice)
- De Wereld Draait Door2005 · as Self
- American Dad!2005 · as James Hetfield (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2005 · as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
- Classic Albums1997 · as Self - Guitarist, Vocalist, Metallica
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast1994
- Later... with Jools Holland1992 · as Self
- Heavy Metal Heaven Hosted by Elvira1989 · as Himself - Metalica
- The Simpsons1989 · as William Rieflin (voice)
- MTV Rockumentary1989
- MTV Video Music Awards1984 · as Self
- Live Earth: A Concert for a Climate in Crisis— · as Self