What is James Hetfield's middle name?

James Hetfield's middle name is Alan. His full birth name is James Alan Hetfield, making “Alan” the single canonical answer to this question.

Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, California. He co-founded Metallica with drummer Lars Ulrich in 1981 after answering an advertisement placed in The Recycler, a Los Angeles-area newspaper. Hetfield became the band’s lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and principal lyricist.

The name is sometimes confused with Metallica-related names such as Cliff, Kirk or Lars, but those are bandmates’ first names, not part of Hetfield’s name. Another common mix-up is treating “James” as a nickname; it is his first name, while Alan is the middle name listed in biographical records.

Hetfield’s identity is closely tied to Metallica’s classic lineup, which also included Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Cliff Burton before Burton’s death in 1986. The band’s 1983 debut album, Kill ’Em All, helped establish its early thrash-metal sound.