James Hetfield is the frontman and rhythm guitarist of Metallica. He is the band’s lead vocalist, co-founder, primary rhythm guitarist and one of its principal songwriters.
Hetfield formed Metallica in Los Angeles in 1981 after answering an advertisement placed by drummer Lars Ulrich in the newspaper The Recycler. The band became one of the central acts of thrash metal, combining rapid tempos and aggressive picking with tightly arranged, heavily distorted guitar riffs.
Although best known for rhythm guitar, Hetfield has also played lead parts and guitar solos in the studio and onstage. His raspy vocal delivery and precise downpicking became major elements of Metallica’s sound. He wrote much of the band’s music with Ulrich, while bassist Cliff Burton and later members contributed to the group’s evolving style.
Metallica’s major albums include “Master of Puppets,” “…And Justice for All” and the self-titled “Black Album.” Hetfield is sometimes confused with other thrash-metal frontmen, but Exodus, Testament and Anthrax are separate bands.