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Monday, November 5, 2007

Metallica - The Unnamed Feeling




The Unnamed Feeling
is the third single by heavy metal band Metallica off their 2003 album St. Anger. The song is about an unnamed feeling a person feels when they're close to the edge of losing control, just before he or she panics.

Along with a music video, the song was released as a single exclusively to Australia. It was released as part of an E.P. in The UK. The unique video, directed by The Malloys, featured the band performing in a virtually empty room that gradually closed in on them throughout the song. This was accompanied by visual stories of several people all experiencing that "unnamed feeling" in their own way.

Cover art for the CD single was chosen through a contest where fans could submit their own original artwork. The winning piece was an isolated illustration of a black heart roughly outlined in white with a black background (although the front cover is the "Monster" from their other St. Anger single, Some Kind of Monster).

This between albums special Enhanced EP the "explicit" version of "Unnamed Feeling" plus a video as well as six live performances recorded in Paris in 2003.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

Track listing

  1. The Unnamed Feeling
  2. The Four Horsemen (Live)
  3. Damage, Inc. (Live)
  4. Leper Messiah (Live)
  5. Motorbreath (Live)
  6. Ride the Lightning (Live)
  7. Hit the Lights (Live)
  8. The Unnamed Feeling - Music Video
Album Information

UPC:
00602498158814
Release Date: Jan 12, 2004
Type: Performer
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Universal Records (UK)
Distributor: MSI Music Di
Country of Origin: USA
Original Release Year: 2004
# of Discs: 1
Mono / Stereo: Stereo


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Sunday, November 4, 2007

Metallica LIVE - Blitzkrieg on Wembley 1992


Metallica - Blitzkrieg on Wembley, 1992

Bootleg Information

Title : Blitzkrieg on Wembley
Date : 10/24/92
Venue : Wembley Empire Pool, London, England
Company : Teutonic Teeth-Products
Code : BLITZ1001
Sound : Audience(EX-)

Set list:
  1. Intro (The Good, The Bad, The Ugly)
  2. Enter Sandman
  3. Creeping Death
  4. Harvester of Sorrow
  5. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
  6. Sad But True
  7. Wherever I May Roam
  8. Jason Bass Solo (Orion)
  9. Through The Never
  10. The Unforgiven
  11. ...Justice Medley
  12. Kirk Guitar solo




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Saturday, November 3, 2007

CANNOT THE KINGDOM OF SALVATION TAKE ME HOME

Clifford Lee Burton , 1962 - 1986

During the European leg of the Damage Inc. tour in support of Master of Puppets, the band had complained that the sleeping cubicles on their tour bus were unsatisfactory and uncomfortable. As a minor solution the members would draw cards for the most comfortable bunk. On the evening of September 27, 1986, Burton had won the game with an ace of spades. He was asleep when, according to the driver, the band's tour bus ran over a patch of, skidded off of the road, and flipped onto the grass in Ljungby Municipality near Dörarp rural Sweden. Burton fell through the window of the bus and the bus fell on top of him. It is debatable whether Burton was dead at this point or not, although he would certainly have been critically injured. A winch that was lifting the bus off him snapped, causing the bus to crush him a second time. James Hetfield later stated that he first believed the bus flipped because the driver was drunk, or at least negligent, and had walked long distances down the road demanding this "black ice" be shown to him.

Burton's body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered on the Maxwell Ranch. At the ceremony, the instrumental "Orion" from the album Master of Puppets was played. Burton had never played the song live, and Metallica did not perform it until June 6, 2006 (when they performed the album in its entirety to mark the 20th anniversary of its release). Until then, only sections of the song had been used as part of their performance. During the 1990s, Burton's successor, Jason Newstead would often use the bass line as part of a medley.

Friday, November 2, 2007

ESP Double-Neck Explorer 'Ducks'

This electric-guitar is a black double-necked ESP Explorer with a mahogany body and a rosewood fretboard. This guitar has 12 strings on the top neck and 6 strings on the bottom neck. The inlays are ducks.

  • Model: ESP EXP (double-neck)
  • Color: Black
  • Inlays: Duck
  • Pickups: EMG-60, EMG-81 hum
  • (each neck)
  • Hardware: 2 volume controls
  • (each neck)
  • Can Be Seen: "Binge & Purge" booklet

    Only used live: "Black Album" gigs

  • Last used live: Same tour 8th August '92 in Montreal

    This guitar was exclusively played for the live performance of "Fade To Black".

    The supposed end of its days:
    James get burned with that guitar during a gig in Montreal on the 8th August '92 when the pyros to the song "Fade To Black" set in. It happened because the pyro-tech didn't inform the band that new pyro would be going along with the old pyro which only ignited along the wings of the stage. James assumed that the new pyro canceled out the previous pyro, so he stood on a point where a 12 foot flame from the old pyro ignited.

    He also used exact the same double-necked ESP EXP model later on Woodstock'94. So this guitar either has been restored or rebuild for this show.

    James' ESP Explorers in general:
    They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP
    serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

    The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
    In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP
    serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

    Identical to the EXP model:
    The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22
    XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

    Saturday, October 27, 2007

    ESP Explorer 'Snake'


  • Model: ESP EXP
  • Color: Black
  • Inlays: Black Album Snake
  • Pickups: 2x EMG-81 humbucker
  • Hardware: 2 volume controls
  • Can be seen: Live Shit: San Diego
    ("Sad But True")

    First time used live: "Black Album" gigs
    Still used live

    This guitar is mainly used to be played D-tuned


    James' ESP Explorers in general:
    They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP serie and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP serie has been replaced by the ESP EX standard serie which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP serie which was comparable to
    the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

    The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers:
    In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP serie, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.

    Identical to the EXP model:
    The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.


  • The Black Album Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

    Guitars:

    Black ESP Explorer #2 Custom - (Recording/Live)
    Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays:
    Dots
    Pickups:
    EMG 81/60
    Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note: James' first truly Black Esp Explorer. Used on the road and recording up to this day. Can be seen: "Live Shit: San Diego" - most songs. Last time used live: Before the "Load" gigs.


    Black #3 ESP Explorer Man To Wolf Inlays - (Live)
    Short description:
    Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays: Man to Wolf inlays
    Pickups: EMG 81/60
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note:
    Used a ton during the Roam Tour, and still used live today. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: San Diego" during "Harvester of Sorrow".


    Black ESP Custom Explorer #4 Snake Inlays - (Recording/Live)
    Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays:
    Snakes
    Pickups:
    EMG 81/60
    Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note: James Still Uses this on the road from time to time. Can be seen in the video "Live Shit: Seattle" during "Sad But True". Mainly used as a D-tuned guitar

    Black ESP Explorer #5 NRA logo inlays - (Recording/Live)
    Short description:
    Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays: NRA (National Rifle Association) Logo
    Pickups:
    EMG 81/60
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note: Not Seen or Used a lot, probably never played live.


    Black ESP Explorer #6 Deer Skull Inlays - (Recording/Live)
    Short description: Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays:
    Deer Skull
    Pickups:
    EMG 81/60
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note:
    Later Converted to the Diamond Plate Top. Last used live: Before the "Load" gigs









    Black ESP Doubleneck Explorer - (Live)
    Short description: Set Double Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Strings: 12 on Top, 6 on bottom.
    Inlays:
    Black Ducks
    Pickups: EMG 81/60 x 2
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone x 2
    Note: Used For Fade To Black Live. In Montreal on 8 August 1992 James was burnt in a pyrotechnics accident with this guitar.




    Gibson Chet Atkins Acoustic/Electric (Live)
    Short description:
    Solid Spruce top, acoustically chambered Mahogany back. Black with gold hardware. Rosewood fingerboard.
    Inlays: None
    Pickups: Gibson Hex piezo bridge transducer
    Controls:
    Active volume, Active volume, treble and bass (boost and cut)
    Note:
    Can be seen in the video" Live Shit: San Diego" during "The Unforgiven".


    Gretsch White Falcon (Recording)
    Short description:
    The maple body has two F-perforations. The 22 frets large fretboard consists of ebony. White with gold hardware. Model 7594.
    Inlays:
    Pearl blocks
    Pickups:
    2 Filtertron pickups
    Controls: 2 volume controls for each pickup, 1 master volume control and 1 tone control Note: In Gretsch's tradition this guitar was constructed by hand. It is a reissue of the original White Falcon series which has been constructed for the first time in 1950. In contrast to the 'White Falcon I' series that reissue has a double-cutaway Used on the recording of Nothing Else Matters.
    Fender 1952 Telecaster (Recording)
    Short description: Butterscotch with black hardware.
    Inlays: Dots
    Pickups:
    Controls: Parsons-White B-bender system
    Note: Used mainly for recording in the studio. The only live performance was during the "1998 American Music Awards" for "The Unforgiven II".








    Other Guitars Used During The Metallica Era:

    Olympic White Danelectro 12 string - (Recording) - Nothing Else Matters
    Blue Jerry Jones Dano Longhorn Baritone - (Recording - Sad But True main riff)
    Red Vincent Bell Coral Sitar - (Recording) - Where Ever I May Roam And My Friend Of Misery
    Natural "Hetfield" Stratocaster style - (Recording)
    Black Gibson Moderne
    Red Gibson SG Doubleneck - Another Trial on Nothing Else Matters
    Guild 12 string - Another Trial On Nothing Else Matters
    Tom Anderson Electric - Man Guitar Used on Nothing Else Matters
    Aria Nylon String Acoustic (Gift from Cliff Burton) - Probably for The Unforgiven
    Fender Shenandoah Steel String - Used for its "shimmery, high end qualities."
    Red Coral Electric Sitar

    Amplifiers:

    Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+ - Main Sound Combined With Below
    Mesa Boogie Mark IV - Main Sound Combined With Above
    Jose Arrengando Modified 100 watt Marshall Head
    Roland JC-120 Combo - Used for Pretty Cleans
    ADA MP1 - Preamp Modded By Voodoo Amps. Makes for some killer high gains...for crunchy Rhythm tones.
    ADA MQ1 - Preamp
    Aphex Parametric EQ - Just for Tightning Tones
    Marshall 4x12
    Mesa Boogie 4x12
    Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp
    Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amp

    Note: For the "Black Album" gigs and beyond, equipment manager and bass roadie Zack Harmon designed speaker coffins for consistent tone. These were essentially large road cases housing a speaker cabinet, sound dampening and fixed position microphones (Senheiser 421s).

    Picks:


    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm imprinted with the Metallica logo / The Black Album snake.

    ...And Justice for All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

    Guitars:


    Olympic White ESP Custom #1

    Short description:
    Set Neck, Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware
    Inlays: Middle Fingers
    Pickups:
    EMG 60/81
    Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note:
    Refferred to as the "EET FUK" Guitar. Favorite road guitar used by James. Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - most songs. Only used live: "...And Justice For All" gigs. The EET FUK Explorer was autographed by him and now resides at "House of Guitars" (641 Titus Ave. Rocester, NY) the place where the "Kill 'Em All" album was recorded.


    Olympic White ESP Stock #2
    Short
    description: Rosewood Fretboard, Black Hardware.
    Inlays: Dots
    Pickups:
    EMG 60/81
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note:
    Seen With "So Fucking What" Written on the rear horn and "Mud flap woman" on lower horn. Hetfield's main recording guitar for the "Metallica" and "Load" album. Can be seen: "A Year and a Half..." and "Nothing Else Matters" video.



    Satin Black/Purple Esp Custom Explorer

    Short description:
    Set Neck, Ebony Fretboard, Black Hardware. LA Raiders sticker between the pickups and a FUK EM UP sticker on the body.
    Inlays:
    Dots
    Pickups: EMG 81/60
    Controls:
    1 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note:
    Used in the later part of the Justice Tour, and some of 1990. And It actually is a Purple tinted guitar. Can be seen: "Live Shit: Seattle" - ("The Thing That Should Not Be"). Last time used live: "... And Justice For All" gigs or possibly "Black Album" gigs.
    Amps:
    Replacement 100 watt Marshall Heads that were later modified - Replaced after searching 2 continents for the amp that was stolen before a gig in Boston on a cold night of January. It was James' First Amp. Marshall 4x12 Cabinet James found his love for Mesa Boogie Products Due to the popularity of Marshalls and Tryed Mesas after his Marshall was stolen
    Mesa Boogie Mk IIC+
    - Responsible for a major part of the sound in this. Mesa Boogie Quad Preamp Marshall JCM 800 Marshall JMP Heads Marshall 4x12 with 65 watt speakers Mesa Boogie Heads slaved into Marshalls Marshall 4x12 Cabinets

    Picks:

    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
    Effects and Other Stuff:
    Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
    Boss Flanger Pedal
    Boss Tuner
    Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
    ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)

    Ibanez UE400 Multi-F - Just guitar effects
    Furman PQ4 parametric E - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.


    Olympic White ESP Custom #1, Olympic White ESP Stock #2, ESP Stock #2 Custom Explorer

    Garage Days Re-Revisited Era : James Hetfield's Equipments


    Guitars:

    White Gibson Explorer #2
    Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
    Inlays: Dot
    Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
    Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
    Note: This guitar will be seen with a lot of different artwork throughout 1984-1988. Including the "More Beer" Sticker with "Jaggermiester."

    Amps:

    Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
    Marshall 100 watt power amp
    Marshall 4x12 cabinets

    Pics:

    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
    Effects and Other Stuffs:

    Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
    Boss Flanger Pedal
    Boss Tuner
    Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
    ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
    Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
    Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
    Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

    White Gibson
    Explorer #2

    Master of Puppets Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

    Guitars:

    Jackson King V
    Short description: Neck-Thru-Body, Ebony Fretboard, 24 Jumbo Frets,
    Inlays: Shark Fin
    Pickups: Duncan Invaders
    Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
    Note: Dubbed the "Kill Bon Jovi" guitar. Jackson Wanted James to endorse this guitar but James Felt it hurt his image and he looked better with the explorer. Never-the-less he used this one mostly on the road in 1986 for down tuned songs such as "The Thing That Should Not Be."

    Amps:

    Mesa-Boogie Mark C+ amp (re-wired as a pre-amp)
    Marshall 100 watt power amp
    Marshall 4x12 cabinets

    Picks:

    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

    Effects and Other Stuffs:

    Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
    Boss Flanger Pedal
    Boss Tuner
    Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
    ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
    Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
    Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
    Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.


    Jackson
    King V

    Ride The Lightning Era : James Hetfield's Equipments

    Guitars:

    White Gibson Explorer #1
    Short description: Cream White Stock 1984 Explorer,
    Inlays: Dot
    Pickups: Gibson 500T in the bridge, 496R in the neck. In 1988 EMGS 81/81 Installed
    Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.


    Amps:

    Marshall 100 watt head and 4x12 cabinets

    Picks:

    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm
    Effects and Other Stuffs:

    Ibanez Tube Screamer- used as an overdrive/distortion pedal. - James didn't use this often, Pretty much never again after 1984.
    Boss Flanger Pedal
    Boss Tuner
    Rocktron Compressor/Limiter/Hush - Used on the mics for reducing background noise, making vocals alive and real. Also can be used to balance out Instrument feedback and such. Only mono.
    ADA 2FX Multi Effects Processo - A popularly used 80's Rack mount product. With 3 separate purposes
    Flanger (4 Nobs), Chorus (2 Nobs), And a Delay of 1 second maximum (4 Nobs)
    Ibanez UE400 Multi-FX - Just guitar effects
    Furman PQ4 parametric EQ - Good for boosting EQ and fine tuning guitar tones.

    White Gibson
    Explorer #1

    Kill 'Em All Era : James Hetfield's Equipments


    Guitars:


    Epiphone Flying V
    Short description: Alder Body, Croe Hardware.
    Inlays: Dot
    Pickups: Stock / Later Seymour Duncan Invaders were installed.
    Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone.
    Note: This is not a real Gibson though it was treated by James as a Gibson. James had taken a truss-rod cover off of a Gibson and placed it on his to make it appear to be a "real" Gibson.

    Amps:

    Marshall 100 watt SLP - Jose Arrengando Modified

    Pro Co. Rat Distortion Pedal
    Marshall 4x12 Cabinet

    Picks:

    Dunlop Green Tortex .88 mm

    Effects and Other Stuff:

    ProCo Rat Distortion

    Epiphone
    Flying V

    Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments

    Summation of James Hetfield's Equipments According to Metallica.com
    Guitars:
    Ken Lawrence Custom Explorer Natural
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Deerskull Inlay
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Snake Inlay
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Wood-Burn Deer
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Black Diamond Plate
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Silver Diamond Plate
    ESP Custom Black Explorer - Bright Diamond Plate
    ESP Custom Black Flying V - Green Flames
    ESP Custom Black Flying V - Hot Rod Flames
    ESP Custom Black "Fuel" Les Paul Style with Gold Pinstripe
    ESP Custom Black & White Pinstripe Les Paul
    ESP Custom Black & Gold Pinstripe Les Paul
    ESP New Model Black Explorer - Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

    Amplifiers:
    Mesa Boogie 4x12 Speaker Cabinets
    Wizard 4x12 Speaker Cabinets
    4x Costumized Mesa Boogie Tri-Axis Pre-Amps
    4x Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Power Amps
    Mesa Boogie Tremoverb 2x12 Combo Amp

    Strings:
    Ernie Ball (.010-.046)

    Picks:
    Dunlop Custom Nylon Picks (Green Tortex .88 mm Guitar)

    Differences of ESP Guitars

    ESP Guitars

    James' ESP Explorers
    They are all based upon the standard ESP EXP series and were built or overseen by Matt Masciandaro. Meanwhile the EXP series has been replaced by the ESP EX standard series which has a sharp shape for its ends and headstock instead of the old EXP series which was comparable to the rounded shape of the Gibson Explorers.

    The difference between the EXP model and James' Explorers
    In difference between James' Explorers and the standard ESP EXP series, James guitars have set-necks (glued joint) instead of bolt-on necks. Besides the "Black Album" guitars' fingerboards consist of ebony instead of rosewood.


    Identical to the EXP model
    The body consists of mahogany, the neck of maple and the fingerboard (with its 22XJ [XJ=extra jumbo] frets) of rosewood. All hardware (the tune-o-matic bridge, the stop piece and tuners) is black. It has one volume control for each pickup.

    Who Is : James Hetfield


    James Hetfield
    Born:
    August 3, 1963
    From: Los Angeles
    Personal:
    Married, 3 Children
    Instrument:
    Vocals, Guitar
    Vitals:
    Blue eyes, blonde hair, 6'1"/1.85 meters tall


    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


    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 a truck driver and light opera singer on August 3rd, 1963, in Los Angeles, 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. 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.

    After moving to Brea, California, James 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. 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.


    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 T
    anner 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...

    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 built 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.