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James Hetfield is a legendary American musician with over forty years of active career in music. Hetfield is one of the best rhythm guitarist in the country and the fact that he has been doing this for over four decades shows how great he is.
He is the co-founder of Metallica, a heavy metal band where he is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. The band’s performances has been spectacular over years, winning nine Grammy Awards in the process.
In the subsequent paragraphs, you’ll find a lot more key facts about the rhythm guitarist that might interest you.
James Hetfield Biography
James Alan Hetfield is a legendary American musician born on August 3, 1963 in Downey, California to Virgil Lee Hetfield and Cynthia Bassett. His father was a truck driver whiles his mother, Cynthia was a light opera singer.
Hetfield is however not the only child of his parents though as he has three other siblings. Two older half brothers from his mother’s first marriage and a younger sister.
Unfortunately, Hetfield could not grow up together with both parents by his side as they divorced when he was only 13 years old in 1976 and by 1980, his mother died of cancer.
Hetfield is of German, Irish, Scottish and English descent. By the time he was nine years old, Hetfield was already taking piano lessons and by age 14 started playing guitar with Robert Okner which was the beginning of what is to come for the young Hetfield.
According to him, he got the inspiration to play guitar right from childhood from Aerosmith.
He co-founded Metallica, a heavy metal band in October 1981 and since gone on to release ten studio albums, three live albums, 24 singles and four extended plays. Their efforts did not go in vain as they have the awards to show for their work over the years.
The band (Metallica) has won nine Grammy Awards and members of the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2009. In that same year, Hetfield was ranked No. 8 in Joel Mclver’s book ‘The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists’. He also placed 19th in Guitar World’s poll of the greatest guitarists of all time.
However, at some point in in his career, alcohol addiction and the effects it had on him nearly derailed his progress. Fortunately for him, he identified the problem early enough and went into rehab in 2001 even though the band was recording its eighth studio album at the time.
James Hetfield Age
Hetfield is 59 years old at the time of writing. He was born on August 3, 1963 in Downey, California, U.S.
James Hetfield Height
Hetfield has a height of 1.85m (6 ft)
James Hetfield Parents
James was born to Virgil Lee Hetfield and Cynthia Bassett. His father was a truck driver whiles his mother, Cynthia was a light opera singer.
His mother died of cancer in February 1980 when Hetfield was 16 years old and his father also died in 1996.
James Hetfield Wife
Hetfield is currently divorced. His over twenty years marriage with Francesca Tomasi ended in August 2022 due to irreconcilable differences.
James Hetfield Children
Hetfield has three children with his ex-wife, Francesca. Their names are Castor Virgil Hetfield, Cali Tee Hetfield and Marcella Francesca Hetfield.
James Hetfield Net Worth
James Hetfield, the co-founder of Metallica has an estimated net worth hovering around $300 million. He is undoubtedly the richest member of the Metallica band.
James Hetfield Instagram
Per our checks, the legendary guitarist does not have an official instagram account. All other accounts in his name on instagram are fan pages or persons impersonating him.
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