Biografía

In 1992 Hetfield was badly burned at the infamous Guns N' Roses / Metallica Stadium Tour in Montreal, Canada, when he accidentally stepped into a pyrotechnic blast. After 17 days he was able to continue vocals with Metallica, but was forced to temporarily give up his guitar duties to a band technician until he was able to make a full recovery.

He originally wrote the 1991 hit "Nothing Else Matters" as a personal song, not intended to be played in front of anyone else, but Metallica drummer and band mate Lars Ulrich convinced him to use it for a Metallica song, which he did.

Metallica's 1991 song "The God That Failed" was based on the death of Hetfield's mother, because as a Christian Scientist she believed that her faith in God alone would be able to save her from cancer.

Metallica's hit 1991 song "Enter Sandman" was inspired by fears and nightmares Hetfield had as a child.

He has English, and some Scots-Irish, ancestry. While most of his family has lived in the United States for many generations, his maternal grandmother was English (born in London, England).

[at the end of concerts] Thank you, friends!

There is one Metallica. We have many styles, it's called Metallica.

There is something powerful in Metallica, a will, a drive.

If I hadn't had music in my life, it's quite possible I'd be dead and I'd much rather be alive.

[Why Metallica survived after the death of Cliff Burton] Knowing Cliff's attitude, he'd kick our butts if we quit.