Which Metallica band member initially wrote “Nothing Else Matters” for himself?

James Hetfield initially wrote “Nothing Else Matters” for himself while Metallica was on tour.

Hetfield developed the song in 1990 while feeling homesick and missing people away from home. He initially did not intend it to become a Metallica recording, because its intimate subject and open arpeggiated guitar style differed from the band's established image.

Drummer Lars Ulrich heard the piece and encouraged Hetfield to bring it to the band. It was then developed into a full arrangement for The Black Album, with orchestral parts written by Michael Kamen. Hetfield performed the vocals and guitars on the studio recording.

The song is sometimes described as a Lars Ulrich composition because the official credit lists Hetfield and Ulrich. However, the song's origin story identifies Hetfield as the person who wrote the original piece. Kirk Hammett also does not play on the studio recording, another detail often confused with the writing credit.