James Hetfield

What is a hero? A hero to me a a person who has strived to get to where he is at, a person who set a goal and acomplished it, a GOD, a living Legend. A hero to me is someone who has left a mark in their profession. My hero is James Hetfied. James is the rhythim guitarist and vocalist from Metallica. James has been on all of the Metallica albums from their first album release Kill'em All in 1983 to their latest album St. Anger iin 2003. James is seen by many as the best rhythim guitarist ever.

James Hetfield was born to a truck driver and light opera singer on August 3rd, 1963, in Los Angeles California. His family's Christian Science religious beliefs are often mentioned as the root of James' "tortured soul" lyrics. Musically, he began at age 9 with piano lessons, then banging away on his brother David's drums and finally to guitar. James is known for his Angst-ridden, soul-rending, growling, loud-vocals, rhythim guitar playing, and some of the solos in some of Metallica's songs.

James first started in a band called Obsession that was made up of the Veloz brothers on the bass and drums, and Jim Arnold on guitar. The band played a couple garage shows but soon broke up. When James moved to Brea wherer he went to highschool at Brea Olinda High school. At Brea James met a drummer by the name of Jim Mulligan, both Jim and James would jam together during lunch along with another guitarist, this guy did not last long so Jim and James met a guy named Hugh Tanner then the band Phantom Lord was born with Hugh on guitar Jim on drums and James on vocals and guitar. The band went through alot of bass players. After graduation James moved to Downey with a friend Ron James talked Ron into playing bass when Ron joined Phantom Lord the band changed the name to Leather Charm and james only sang. The band managed to play a few parties and also recorded a demo but shortly after the band fell apart with the departure of the drummer Jim the band had no choice but to call it quits.

On October 28, 1981 James and Danish-American tennis pro-turned-drummer Lars Ulrich formed METALLICA! The lineup consited of Dave Mustane on lead guitar, and roommate Ron McGovney. The band recorded 4 songs for a compilation titled Metal Massacre 1 and 4 more for a widely circulated demo tape called "No Life 'Til Leather." The band got a small underground folowing. In 1983 the band relocated to San Fransico and recruted a local bassist by the name of Cliff Burton and former Exudus lead guitarist Kirk Hammett. In the month of May the band recorded their full-lenghth album Kill'em All. The band has not stoped since, with the exception of the death of bassist Cliff Burton who was replaced by Jason Newsted. In January 2001 Jason Newsted announced that he was going to leave Metallica after almost 15 years of playing with the band. During the spring of 2001 Metallica entered the studio with no bass player in hopes of trying to record another album, but then in July of 2001 James Hetfield announced that he would enter rehab for alcohol and other drug addictions. With no singer the band had no choice but to put the album on hold till James Hetfield recovered. After his recovery in rehab James joined his band with still no bassist to complete there album St. Anger. The band made a big announcement on Febuary 24th 2003 that the new bassist would be ex Suicidal Tendencies and ex Ozzy Osbourne member Robert Trujillo.

In conclusion the reason why i picked James Hetfield as my hero because James influenced me to a better guitarist. He may not be a super hero or any of that crap but he is one of the most influential guitarist ever. He has left his mark in the music buisness. He has also strived very hard to acomplish his goal of being a great musician. I would love to meet my hero some day but till then I will continue to learn the Mighty Metallica's songs and see them in concert.