James Alan Hetfield
Born:
From: Los Angeles
Personal: Married, 3 Children
Instrument: Vocals, Guitar
Speciality: Angst ridden, soul rending, growling, loud-ass vocals
Vitals: Blue eyes, blonde hair, 6'1"/1.85 meters tall
Drives: Chevy Blazer, Dodge Ram, '55 Chevy BelAir
Food: Mexican, meat 'n' potatoes, bbq, oysters
Sports Teams: A lifetime fan of the Oakland Raiders, San Jose Sharks, D.C. United, has season tickets for the San Jose Sharks.
Pre-music career: High School Janitor, Stock Cutter at a Sticker Printing Factory, Artist/Advertising or something
Likes: Hunting, Hot Rods, anonymity, snowboarding, street hockey,
To trace the roots of Hetfield's unflinching dedication and determination, you have to go back to a childhood that was often tough but laid a foundation, which underscores James today. Born to Virgil Hetfield a truck driver and Cynthia Hetfield a light opera singer, his family's Christian Science religious beliefs played a large part in the young Hetfield's life, and subsequently form a central point for many of Metallica's lyrics. James has two older half-brothers, a stepbrother and a sister. James' stepfather was raised in a strict Christian Science family. Christian Science limited alot of things in James' childhood. The frustration, ridicule at school, limitations and restrictions brought on by this religion; later all this crap influenced James' nightmare lyrics. His family's Christian Science religious beliefs are often mentioned as the root of James' "tortured soul' lyrics.
He was 9 years old when he first took piano lessons before taking on brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens. With the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy providing inspiration, James quickly set about the task of becoming a rock star in his first band, Obsession. Made up of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums, with Jim Arnold on guitar, plenty of time was spent in the Veloz's garage jamming with Ron McGoveny and Dave Marrs acting as roadies. McGovney subsequently stepped in alongside Marrs and Hetfield when the Veloz brothers incarnation ended. James met Dave Marrs and Ron McGovney at Downey East Middle School. Virgil and Cynthia Hetfield divorced in 1975/1976.
James Mum died of cancer in 1979, he had to live with his Sister and Brother-in-law in Brea California. The troubled teen cut loose, “Just causing trouble, shoplifting, getting a little stash box,” he says. He knew what he wanted, though: His high-school yearbook entry read: “Aspirations: Be a rock star.”
James 16yrs old, attended Brea Olinda High School and met up with drummer Jim Mulligan. The two jammed at lunch time scaring fellow guitarists with their loud and heavy sounds before a guy called Hugh Tanner was seen carrying around part of a flying V guitar at school. Phantom Lord was born with Hugh on guitar, Mulligan on drums and James singing plus playing guitar. The group went through a few bass players until graduation when James moved back to Downey.
Back in Downey, James moved into a house owned by Ron McGovney's parents that was slated for demolition due to an expressway expansion, on Kings and Queens Street in Downey. It was the perfect place for James and Ron to crash, rehearse and jam. James talked Ron into taking up bass, Phantom Lord was no more and the third band under Hetfield's leadership.
Leather Charm, was born. The only difference between Charm and Lord, was James singing without guitar and Ron playing bass guitar, Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan retaining their former 'Lord positions. Leather Charm was a largely hard rock combo, playing some originals and covers such as Iron Maiden's 'Remember Tomorrow' amongst others. The band managed to perform at a few parties and recorded a demo, but then began to fall apart.
Leather Charm started 'Hit the Lights' and 'No Remorse'. James and Ron put out an ad for a drummer for Leather Charm. Lars Ulrich replied in April of 1981.
First Tanner left the band (replaced by Troy James), then Mulligan left for a more progressive, Rush-like band. And with no drummer, the band was forced to call it quits. Although it was Mulligan's departure that led to James searching for a new drummer, we can safely say that Hugh Tanner was responsible for the catalytic moment which would change the course of James Hetfield's life and out him on the path to achieving his childhood ambition. How? Simple...Tanner introduced James to Lars Ulrich. The rest, as you'll read elsewhere, is a long, illustrious (occasionally curious) and still-evolving history...
When it comes to defining Metallica, most people use James Hetfield as their guide. There's never any bullshit with James and there's never any shirking of duties. Example? When he threw his back out on the Summer Sanitarium 2000 tour, James ploughed his way through three weeks of intense physical therapy in four days, according to his physical therapist. And when the going got really tough, and James needed help in 2001, he sought it out, took it on and came back stronger than ever. It is precisely this sort of fierce, unbending
dedication, devotion and spirit which has made James such an inspirational focal point through the years for millions of fans.
Ironically, the voice of Metallica (indeed, a defining voice of his rock'n'roll generation) very nearly wasn't a voice at all, simply because in the early days, James Hetfield didn't fancy being a lead vocalist. Metallica tried a few different vocal/guitar configurations. Some of the options considered included adding another guitar player, having then-lead guitar player Dave Mustaine play the sole guitar and asking John Bush from Armored Saint to sing for the band. Of course common sense prevailed, James decided to fight harder to establish himself as a frontman and the results are, ahem, history
James is the main songwriter in Metallica, co-creating the framework and structure for most Metallimaterial. When he's not writing, singing or playing, James enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hunting, snowboarding, water and jet-skiing, sketching, annoying neighbors with guns and loud pipes on his chopper "The Saga", watching his favorite Oakland Raiders and going to hot-rod shows. He also collects older guitars (particularly those from 1963) and enjoys working on old cars. Amongst his favorites are a '55 Chevy BelAir (which he helped build and restore himself), and 'The Beast', a fearsome all-terrain 4-wheel drive Blazer that is designed to survive everything from earthquakes to nuclear holocausts. Aside from these pursuits, James is often happiest spending time with his wife Francesca and three children, Cali, Castor, and Marcella.
James father Virgil died in 1996 of cancer. 'Bleeding Me' and 'Until it Sleeps' are about his father's illness.
On August 17, 1997 James married Francesca. She is from Argentina, worked security in Denver but wanted to travel, so whe went on the road with Metallica as one of their wardrobe people. Francesca's father didn't like James at first, but they are in a good relationship now. Francesca was part of the Security Crew before becoming part of the Wardrobe Team. James proposed to Her in a restaurant after trying unsuccessfully placing the ring on the table without Her noticing. The only way He could think of was to tell Her She had spinach in Her teeth, which prompted Her to visit the bathroom. On Her return, the ring was in place and the question was popped.
On June 13, 1998 Francesca gave birth to a baby girl. Cali Tee Hetfield.
On May 18, 2000 at 3:23pm Francesca gave birth to a baby boy. Castor Virgil Hetfield. Weighing 9pounds and 6ounces, 22˝ inches.
On January 17, 2002 Francesca gave birth to a baby girl. Marcella Francesca Hetfield. Weighing 8pounds and 5ounces, 22Ľ inches.
In 1991, James blew his voice doing the cover of So What!
On
James helps other addicts with their recovery process.
MusiCares MAP fund dedication support
Used to sign autographs as Jaymz, more recently uses JH along with the last 2 digits of the current year.
"The man is full of evil, let's not kid ourselves. The man may smile on the outside but there is evil lirking within that body at all times" -Bob Rock talking to Steffan Chirazi So What! 1997
"I remember thinking James was really quiet and really shy and mellow, and wondering how can this shy mellow guy just be the screaming banshee that I see on stage?" -Kirk
2008 - "You know, when I stopped drinking, I stopped smoking cigars, I stopped drinking coffee, I tried to really just rid myself of any mind-altering stuff, to get clean as possible, and organic tea is not messing with my head." So What! 15.1
has been described as:
Has beautiful blue eyes, wavy blonde hair, and a deep hypnotic voice. He's tall, he's rough around the edges, he's mean and he's lean and he's uber sexy. Hetfield is gruff, brooding and measured, the band's statuesque frontman.
James is a bit accident prone to say the least, James has been the recipient of hundreds of stitches to his hands, head, knees, and forehead, in addition to sustaining numerous broken bones and severe burns. These injuries, and numerous others, were acquired from various hunting, fishing, and sporting accidents, as well as on stage (which is probably the most dangerous place of all). In fact, Hetfield's most notable mishap occurred on stage at a concert in Montreal, Canada, while touring with Guns N' Roses on August 8, 1992. A pyrotechnic accident left him with severe burns to the left side of his upper body when a communication error between the pyro techie and the band left James standing right in the middle of an on-stage explosion (bye-bye hair and eyebrows). All joking aside, the incident left James in need of critical medical attention and numerous skin grafts. It also made for a long and very painful recovery. Even so, James refused to quit and kept on touring with Metallica, despite being wrapped up in bandages. Unable to play the guitar in his condition, a member of their stage crew took over James' part while he recovered. Despite the circumstances, James presented a positive attitude, joking backstage, "You'll let me know when I'm on fire, right?" (from Metallica: Year and a Half in the Life of... and Binge and Purge). He used to enjoy skateboarding, but he put away the board for good after having several bone crushing accidents in 1985/1986 and 1987, requiring metal plates to be put in his left arm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HPLQBWwMQs&feature=related James playing drums
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vNujSjkLZM&feature=related James playing drums 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I3I-PzdQtI&feature=channel lars and james drum battle 1992 james gets hit with lars drum stick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqjFvlUmPy0&feature=related james hetfield yum!!!
Lars Ulrich
Born:
From:
Personal: 3 Children
Instrument: Drums
Vitals: Green eyes, blonde/brown hair, 5'7"/1.7 meters tall
Enjoys art, film and scuba diving
Likes/Liked: Oasis, Black Grape, Diamond Head, Venom, Motorhead, amongst many other bands and artists
Moved to L.A. California in 1980
Parents: Torben and Lone Ulrich
Drinks: Coors Light, Coronas or Miller Lite Ice
Rides a bike to warm up before shows, and runs everyday
Rescue Diver, 4th Level of the PADI System, uses Scuba Pro and has a U.S. Diver's Computer
Loves Sam Kinison and Monty Python's Flying Circus
Writes the set lists
Favourite places NYC - American Trash bar on 1st, record stores in the village like Bleakers, clothes-SoHo, John Fluevog,
others at Green and Prince street
Inspiration at time of becomming a drummer - Philthy Animal Taylor, Ian Paice (had the same kit as him), John Coglan
Best Drummers: Ian Paice for ability, Phil Rudd AC/DC for groove and swing
Comedy: Monty Python, Spinal Tap, The Young Ones, some old SNL, some Carson, Lettermanin in the first two years, Leno, Sam Kinison it starts with Sam Kinison
What/Who makes him laugh: Kinison, Bobby Slayton, Robin Williams, alot of the old Bobcat Goldwaith, some of the early Dice stuff
First Album: Fireball by Deep Purple after going to his first concert in 1973 a Deep Purple concert with family friend Ray Moore a South African Jazz Player
Pre-metallica: Held a paper route for a while, then had a stint as a gas station attendant, in one of those booths where you pay.
Sports: follows the San Jose Sharks, the 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Has season tickets for the San Jose Sharks.
The oft-seen and heard dynamo of Metallica, when it comes to arranging all matters from songs to business, Lars is always at the epicenter. Indeed, constant activity has been a hallmark of Ulrich's life. As a child he saw his father Torben run a small jazz club in
Lars was nearly 10 when the sounds of Richie Blackmore and Deep Purple blew his little socks off at one of the first gigs he ever attended. It began a theme which has been recurrent in his life -obsession with a band- and having bought the 'Fireball' album, he began a Deep Purple love affair which continues to this day. At 13 he persuaded His grandmother to buy Him a primitive drum kit, which he enthusiastically pounded in a room filled with wall-poster images of Deep Purple and KISS, yet percussion vyed with tennis for priority. When the family moved to Newport Beach, CA in the late '70's, the seeds of priority scattered themselves in his field: girls, rock'n'roll and the occasional funny cigarette were all keys in turning Lars from the wooden raquet to full metal racket. Lars enrolled Himself at West Coast Drums, bought a second-hand Camco Kit, and jammed with other musicians. He got so excited about metal music that he jammed a bit with a young lad called James Hetfield before taking a teenage trip to
Slagel was looking for bands to record cuts for an album he would release on the label (their first release). Lars got a slot but had no band. Remembering the less-than-awesome yet energetic jams with young Hetfield, Lars called him up and told him about the album. James listened. And thus was Metallica conceived.
These days, some 80-odd million albums worldwide later, Metallica might have undergone enormous collective and individual changes, but the essence of Ulrich remains. He is at once a loyal, attentive and determined person, one who locks in for the long-haul and one who's skin can achieve great thickness. He's also, in recent years, become even more comfortable saying exactly what he believes in regardless of the consequences (as evidenced by his willingness to be the band spokesperson on the Napster issue).
Lars founded a record label in 1998 called the Music Company
Lars has been married twice. Lars first wife was Debbie, born in Getofte Denmark, ended in 1990. Skylar Satenstein was his second wife. Skylar was a medical student. Lars poposed to Skylar with a bouquet of 255 roses - one for each of the 254 days they had known each other, plus one for the future. A small ceremony in L.A. telling the press it had been cancelled, to be left alone, James was Bestman. Official announcement at American Music Awards the next day! Lars and Skylar have two children, Myles born on
ContactMusic.com reported that METALLICA's Lars Ulrich pulled out of a major British rock festival last year after suffering a mental collapse in a plane on the way to the event.
Two drummers — SLAYER's Dave Lombardo and SLIPKNOT's Joey Jordison — filled in for Ulrich when he was unable to appear at the Download Festival in England in June 2004.
Ulrich blames his non-appearance on exhaustion, caused by an unrelenting tour schedule and the break-up of his seven-year marriage to Skylar Satenstein.
The 41-year-old Dane told Metal Hammer magazine, "We'd had a heavy touring schedule in Japan, Europe, America and Australia. In the midst of that there were things that had come unravelled in my personal life — my family and my marriage and stuff. I'd had a lot of late nights and early mornings.
"So I woke up in Copenhagen (Denmark) on the Sunday morning, had brunch with 14 in-laws and cousins and then I got on the plane. I was exhausted.
"We took off, and about halfway over to Midlands Airport (in England)... I don't know what the fuck happened, but all of a sudden I just fucking lost it.
"It was pretty fucking scary to be in a little fucking metal tube at 41,000 feet. I've never had anxiety attacks of any kind of stress attacks ever.
"So we landed in Hamburg (Germany) and went to the hospital. They took some blood tests and everything was normal physically — it was just everything caught up with me mentally."
"It was the first ever METALLICA gig I'd ever missed.
"You wanna try laying in a hospital in Germany while Dave Lombardo — the greatest drummer on the planet — is playing with your band. That's not easy. Joey Jordison, too.
"I have a bit of an odd relationship with it — I still haven't looked at the press or the pictures."
Which song best describes you? "Sad But True" -Lars Ulrich
Has been described as:- shrill,garrulous and expansive.
Hanging out with metal bands in his late teens, he saw the potential for fun. Getting friendly with some British
nobodies called the Starfighters really opened his eyes. “When they came to L.A., their manager got them girls,
drugs and alcohol,” he recalls. “I’m going, ‘These girls are fucking these guys because of what they are, not
who they are!’ That was intriguing.”
Turben Ulrich - extra-curricular interests outside Tennis, movie-making (collaborated on a film called 'Motion Picture' in 1969), Acrylic Painting - ink and rice paper works called 'Imprints of Practice' started in 1971, exhibited in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle, Spiritual Interests - visited Indian Teachers in music and yoga in the Fifties, studied Japanese Zen in London in the Sixties, and the Cultural Depth which Lars observed as a child, Jazz musician and Journalist for 'Politiken' on Jazz music introducing Him to a man named Gordon Dexter (Jazz musician) who became Lars Godfather. Gordon Dexter died April 25, 1990.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0zbXoM8lLY part 1 who wants to be a millionaire Lars Ulrich 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C4raj_VfJI part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GhPSvjyg0A&feature=related Lars singing am I evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8FpfMHVzuA&feature=related Lars and James drum battle 8min lars shows his bum
Kirk Hammett
Born:
From: San Francisco
Personal: Married, 2 children
Instrument: Guitar, background vocals
Vitals: Brown eyes, brown hair, 5'8"/1.75 meters tall
Father was a Naval Officer (merchant seaman) (Irish)
Mother Sash was a Government Employee, (Filipino)
Siblings: older brother Rick, younger sister Tracy
Drinks: Bombay Sapphire Blue Martinis, Sky Vodka, green tea, Guiness in a can or on tap, Sierra Pale Ale,
Likes Cooking, Lacto-ovo vegetarian, Health Nut
Eats: Sushi, Mexican food, pasta, Indian food, Thai food, favourite fruit is mango
Sports teams: None ("I hate sports!")
Tattoos: Has his birth date and place tattooed on his stomach, hot rod flames on his thighs and 6 piercings
Likes: Mountain biking, tattoos, piercing, collecting old horror-movie stuff, cigars, philosophy, H.P. Lovecraft,
Taxidermy, Pinball, Surfing, reads Science magazines, into Ancient History, Archeology, Cars
Nicknames: The Ripper, Kirk Hampster, Cuban Gangster Pimp
Pre-metallica: worked at Burger King flipping patties
Kirk Hammett, never without a grin or a curious thought, is the true Bay Area band-member. Born in
Kirk worked at the Mira Vista Country Club in Richmond, California, for about eight months, when He was 15˝ years old to buy a black flying V guitar that he bought at Leo's Music in Oakland. He quit as soon as He bought his guitar.
After picking up a 1978 Fender Stratocaster, Kirk experimented by mixing and matching guitar parts to find his perfect sound before falling for a 1974 Gibson Flying V. In a determined (and successful) effort to upgrade his equipment, Kirk even took a shift at Burger King to get the cash together for his first
In April 1983, Kirk received a phone call from Metallica in
A keen student of his instrument even today, Hammett followed his first 'Kill 'Em All' tour by taking lessons from Joe Satriani, and embarked upon a passage of guitar self-education that took in jazz, blues and classical styles. Indeed, education has always been Kirk's answer to potential burnout. After the marathon 'Black' album tour ended in 1993, he immediately went to the City College of San Francisco where he took classes, something he credits as the reason behind his reinvention as a guitarist on the 'Load' and 'Re-load' albums.
Kirk has a short attention span, has ADD but not the hyperactive type, also has OCD, but does not use medication, controls it himself.
In VH1's Fanclub 1998: Metallica, Kirk talks about a fan who's an undertaker. The fan got him into the morgue to watch an autopsy. Kirk says it was one of his first dates with his wife, and that because of it, he knew she was the woman for him.
Kirk continues to bring not only a dazzling array of lead guitar parts to Metallica's music but also some savage rifferey, having started sharing 6-string duties with James during the 'Load' era. Kirk has been married twice. First wife Rebecca (actress), married on 3 December, 1987 and divorced in 1991. He is now happily married to second wife Lani Gruttadauro, married on 31 January, 1998 in Hawaii, an informal flower-strewn ceremony, and lives in San Francisco along with a large collection of old Hollywood movie memorabilia, most valuable item 'a Frankenstein Head Radio Speaker" his two dogs Darla and Hoku, plus cats.......Oh, and for the record, Kirk plays his guitar at least 361
days a year.
On November 6, 1998 He suffered from appendicitis when metallica were on tour in England. He went to a London Hospital, recovered, and a couple of weeks later flew back to San Francisco.
Kirk performed a show with friends band 'Swarm' in San Francisco in 1999.
Officially endorsed by ESP guitars (a Japanese Company). He has several signature ESP guitar models (mostly identified by 'KH' letters) and he has worked with the company since the late 80's.
"A life lived unexplored is a life not worth living."
Kirk and Lani Hammett gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Angel Ray Keala Hammett on
Kirk and Lani Hammett gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Vincenzo Kainalu Hammett on June 28th, 2008. Mum and son are doing great. (And so is Dad and Angel!)
Which song best describes you? "The Thing That Should Not Drink"
The first time Kirk ever got to go backstage was at one of His own shows. So What! 4.2
"If I were a tree I would be a Mango Tree, I have a guitar built out of a mango tree"
Lars is my drinking buddy.
First learned to play guitar on an acoustic guitar.
Custom-made blue liquid see through guitar by ESP
The lead guitarist’s father — a merchant seaman with a drinking problem — was often absent. Unsupervised on the
streets of San Francisco, Hammett barely even glimpsed the straight-and-narrow. “I was thrown in jail within a
week of turning 18,” he says. “What for? I’d rather not say. Ha ha!”
Hammett found out he had suffered liver damage— luckily, it wasn’t irreversible.
Years of excessive drinking had left their mark, so Alcoholica went on hold. Hammett cut out cocaine, too. “I’d
become useless,” he says. “I’d become depressed; my relationships suffered. So I made a few decisions — and I
took up surfing!”
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett suffered a surfing injury September 1, 2002 and will be out of commission for about two weeks. The axe-slinger needed six stitches after his board cut his armpit in the accident. ... It sounds like something out of Spinal Tap but it appears to be real. Metallica’s Kirk Hammett was stabbed by a surfboard, his own board in fact.
Metal news site Blabbermouth and Metallica’s online club Intersandman.com reports that last Saturday, Kirk Hammett was stabbed by his board after he was tossed from a wave while surfing. Hammett suffered a cut under his armpit that required 6 stitches. Because of his injuries he will not be able to play guitar for the next couple of weeks but apparently in what Blabbermouth refers to as a joke, Hammett has offered to “sing, play percussion, tambourine or a little piano during the songwriting and recording sessions for the group's forthcoming CD.”
Robert Trujillo
Robert Augustin Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Vercruz
Born:
From:
Personal: Married, 2 Children
Instrument: Bass, Background Vocals
Vitals: Brown eyes, dark hair, 5'9"/1.75 meters tall
He's got rhythm, and he's most certainly got music. Now Robert Trujillo's also got the job of being Metallica's new bassist and family member...one that will doubtless fit this most righteous and cheerful of
Although he sometimes does use a pick,
Growing up in
In the early '90s, he and Muir formed the experimental funk-rockers Infectious Grooves, and then in the mid-'90s
Rob's name first floated by the Metallicamp during Suicidal's supporting role on the Summer Shed tour of '94, when all the band noted his enthusiastic style and performances. Thus when it was time to consider who could step up and take the bass full-time in Metallica, Rob's name was an obvious choice.
By all accounts,
And so it was that on
Rob married long time girlfriend Chloe Barthelemy, they have a son Tye-Orion and a daughter Lullah.
