James Alan Hetfield is an American musician and songwriter best known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles.
In 2009, Hetfield was ranked at no. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. In Guitar World's poll, Hetfield was placed as the 19th greatest guitarist of all time, as well as being placed second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists poll of the same magazine. Rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th greatest guitarist of all time.
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2024 | Metallica: Helping Hands Concert & Auction as Self |
2024 | The Thicket as Simon Deasy |
2023 | Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 2 as Himself |
2023 | Metallica: M72 World Tour Live from Texas - Night 1 as Himself |
2023 | Metallica: M72 World Tour Live in Amsterdam - Night 2 as Self |
2023 | Metallica: 72 Seasons - Global Premiere as Self |
2022 | Metallica Presents: The Helping Hands Concert as Self |
2022 | Metallica - Global Citizen Festival 2022 |
2022 | Metallica at Lollapalooza 2022 as self |
2022 | Metallica Live Hellfest 2022 as SELF |
2022 | Metallica Download Festival Germany |
2022 | Metallica Campo Argentino de Polo |
2022 | Ennio as Self |
2021 | Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 2) as vocals, guitars |
2021 | Metallica: 40th Anniversary - Live at Chase Center (Night 1) as vocals, guitars |
2021 | Metallica - Live At Festivalpark, Werchter, Belgium - July 4th, 1993 |
2021 | Metallica - Live At Frankenhalle, Nuremberg, Germany - November 29th, 1992 |
2021 | Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark - August 10th, 1991 as Self |
2021 | Metallica - Live at Gentofte Stadion, Copenhagen, Denmark August 10, 1991 + Bonus Shit as Self |
2021 | Metallica - The Black Album - Music Videos + Halfin’s Home Movies |
2021 | Metallica - Wherever We May Roam as vocals, guitars |
2021 | Metallica - Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica Outtakes |
2021 | Metallica: Black Album Deluxe Box Set as Self |
2021 | Metallica: Live in Lincoln, Nebraska - September 6, 2018 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica - The All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert & Auction |
2020 | Metallica Helping Hands Concert & Auction: Live & Acoustic From HQ as Himself |
2020 | Songs for While I'm Away as Self |
2020 | Flying V as Self |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Mexico City, Mexico - March 3, 2017 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live at Yankee Stadium - Bronx, New York - September 14, 2011 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - June 13, 2004 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Dallas, Texas - August 3, 2000 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica - Live in Irvine, California - September 23, 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Berlin, Germany - June 6, 2006 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Lisbon, Portugal - June 28, 2007 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Bogotá, Colombia - May 2, 1999 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Madrid, Spain - May 31, 2008 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Melbourne, Australia - March 1, 2013 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: WorldWired Tour - Live in Manchester, England - June 18, 2019 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Salt Lake City, Utah - January 2, 1997 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Lima, Peru - March 20, 2014 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Chicago, Illinois - August 12, 1983 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Nickelsdorf, Austria - June 10, 2012 as Himself |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Muskegon, Michigan (November 1, 1991) |
2020 | Metallica: Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 as vocals |
2020 | Metallica: Live at Slane Castle as lead vocals, guitar |
2020 | Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets as Self |
2019 | Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M2 as Himself |
2019 | Metallica : Live in Moscow 2019 |
2019 | Metallica - Live in Berlin 2019 |
2019 | Murder in the Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story as Self |
2019 | Live Metallica: Stade de France, Paris - mai 12, 2019 as James Hetfield |
2019 | Live Metallica: Barcelona, Spain - May 5, 2019 |
2019 | Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile as Officer Bob Hayward |
2018 | Sad Hill Unearthed as Self - Musician |
2017 | Linkin Park and Friends Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington as Self (archive footage) |
2017 | Metallica: Live in Paris, France - Sept 8, 2017 |
2017 | Metallica - Live from Edmonton, Canada - August 16, 2017 as vocals |
2017 | Metallica - Live at Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA - August 12, 2017) |
2017 | Who the Fuck is That Guy?: The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago as Self |
2017 | Metallica - Live at Rock on the Range, Columbus 2017 |
2017 | Metallica: Lollapalooza Brazil 2017 as Vocals, Guitars |
2017 | Addicted to Porn: Chasing the Cardboard Butterfly as Narrator |
2017 | Cum On Feel The Noize as Self |
2016 | Metallica: Making of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct |
2016 | Metallica - Hardwired... To Self-Destruct Videos as Voice & Rithm Guitar |
2016 | Metallica: Live from The House of Vans as Vocals, guitars |
2016 | Orchestrating An Upset: The 1996 World Cup of Hockey as Himself, Narrator |
2016 | Metallica: [2016] Rasputin Music, Berkeley as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2016 | Metallica: The Night Before |
2015 | Görevimiz Lars as Himself |
2015 | Metallica: Rock in Rio 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2015 | Metallica - Live at Reading Festival as Vocals, Guitars |
2015 | Randy Johnson: The Big Picture |
2015 | Metallica: [2015] X Games as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2015 | Metallica: Rock in Rio USA 2015 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2014 | Metallica: Masters of Metal |
2014 | Metallica: Masters of Metal as Himself |
2014 | Metallica Live at Blizzcon as Himself |
2014 | Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II as Himself |
2014 | 'Tallica Parking Lot as James Hetfield (voice) |
2014 | Metallica: Glastonbury Festival |
2014 | Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2014 as Vocals, Guitars |
2014 | Metallica: This Monster Lives as Himself |
2014 | Metallica: Beyond Thunder and Lightning as Himself |
2014 | Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica "Through the Never" as Self |
2013 | Metallica: Freeze 'Em All - Live in Antarctica as Self - Vocals, Guitars |
2013 | Metallica: Through the Never as Himself |
2013 | Metallica: Rock In Rio 2013 as Self - Vocals, Guitars |
2013 | Surfeando tus sueños |
2012 | Metallica: Quebec Magnetic as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
2012 | Metallica: Live at Orion Music And More 2012 (1st Night) |
2012 | Metallica: Orion Music Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2012 | Metallica: The Black Album |
2012 | Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2012 | Metallica: Live at Rock im Park 2012 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2012 | Metallica: Rock in Rio as Vox, Guitars |
2012 | Anton Corbijn Inside Out as Self |
2011 | Metallica: The 30th Anniversary Event as Self |
2011 | An Evening with Lou Reed & Metallica - Live at Rockpalast |
2011 | Metallica: Rock In Rio 2011 as Vocal, Guitar |
2011 | Absent as Himself |
2010 | Metallica: Fan Can 6 as Vocals, Guitars |
2010 | The Big Four: Live in Sofia as Guitars |
2010 | Metallica: Live at Sonisphere as James Hetfield |
2010 | Metallica - Master of Puppets (Deluxe Box Set) as Self |
2010 | Lemmy as Self |
2009 | Metallica: Orgullo, Pasion y Gloria - Tres Noches en la Ciudad de Mexico as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
2009 | Metallica: Hall of Fame 2009 as Vocals, Guitars |
2009 | Metallica: Fan Can Six Copenhagen as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
2009 | Metallica: Live in Copenhagen, Denmark - July 22, 2009 as Himself - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar |
2009 | Metallica: Français pour une nuit as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
2008 | METALLICA the Complete Story as Himself |
2008 | Metallica: Making Magnetic |
2008 | Metallica: [2008] Rock en France Festival as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2008 | Metallica - Rock AM Ring as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2008 | Metallica: Live at Rock in Rio Lisboa 2008 as Himself |
2008 | Aural Amphetamine: Metallica and the Dawn of Thrash as Self |
2008 | Metallica Touring Europe |
2007 | Metallica: Up Close and Personal as Himself |
2007 | Metallica - Live Earth as Himself |
2007 | Metallica - Sick of the Studio Tour - LIVE in Wien 2007 as Singer,Guitar |
2007 | Rock Milestones: Metallica: Master of Puppets |
2006 | Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004 as Vocalist, Guitarrist |
2006 | Metallica: Live in Seoul 2006 as Vocals, Guitars |
2006 | Metallica: Rock AM Ring 2006 as Vocals, Guitars |
2006 | Heavy Metal: Louder Than Life as Self |
2006 | Metallica: Fan Can 5 as Vocals, Guitars |
2005 | The Work of Director Anton Corbijn as Self (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said") |
2005 | Hard Rock Treasures as Self |
2004 | Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as Self |
2003 | Metallica: St. Anger as Himself |
2003 | Metallica: MTV Icon as Himself |
2001 | Classic Albums: Metallica - Metallica as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
2000 | Metallica: [2000] Baltimore, Maryland as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
1999 | Metallica and San Francisco Symphony: S&M as Self |
1999 | Metallica With Michael Kamen Conducting The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra – S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals |
1999 | Metallica: Making of S&M as Self - Guitar, Vocals |
1999 | Metallica: Woodstock '99 as Self |
1999 | Metallica: [1999] Plovdiv, Bulgaria as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
1998 | Metallica: Cunning Stunts as Self |
1998 | Metallica: Live Covers as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
1996 | Metallica: Fan Can 1 as Self |
1995 | Metallica: [1995] Loud But Secret as Self - Guitar, Vocals |
1995 | The History of Rock 'n' Roll as Self |
1994 | Metallica: Woodstock '94 |
1994 | Metallica: Live in Mountain View, CA - July 22, 1994 as Self - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar |
1993 | Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego 1992 as Self - Guitar, Vocals |
1993 | Metallican Vid as Himself (Rhythm/Lead Vocal) |
1993 | Metallica: [1993] Basel, Switzerland as Vox, Guitars |
1993 | Metallica: [1993] Santiago, Chile as Vox, Guitars |
1993 | Metallica: [1993] Mexico City, Mexico as Vox, Guitars |
1992 | Metallica: [1992] Den Bosch, Netherlands as Vox, Guitars |
1992 | Metallica: A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica as Self |
1992 | The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert as Self |
1992 | Metallica: Live at San Diego as Himself |
1992 | Metallica - ...And Justice For All as Self |
1991 | Metallica: Live Moscow - Monsters of Rock |
1990 | Metallica: [1990] Zwolle, Netherlands |
1989 | Metallica: Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre as Self |
1989 | Metallica - Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle 1989 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
1989 | Metallica: [1989] Newark, Delaware as Self |
1989 | Metallica: [1989] Middletown, NY as Vox, Guitars |
1989 | 2 of One as Himself (Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocal) |
1988 | Metallica - Live at Hammersmith Odeon as Self - Vocals, Guitars |
1987 | Metallica - Cliff 'Em All as Himself (Guitarist / Vocalist) |
1986 | Metallica: [1986] Nagoya, Japan as Vox, Guitars |
1986 | Metallica - Roskilde Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
1986 | Metallica: [1986] Uniondale, NY as Vox, Guitars |
1986 | Metallica: [1986] Detroit, Michigan as Vox, Guitars |
1985 | Metallica - Metal Hammer Festival as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
1985 | Metallica: [1985] Day on the Green as Vox, Guitars |
1985 | Metallica: Ride The Lightning as Self |
1983 | Metallica - Kill 'Em All in Chicago 1983 as Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar |
1983 | Metallica: [1983] Kiss the Stone as Vox, Guitars |
1972 | Deep Purple: Made In Japan as Self |
| Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album as Self - Metallica |
| Metallica - Beyond Magnetic [Full EP LIVE at the Fillmore] |
| Metallica - The Big 4 Live in Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Metallica at Raadi Airfield Estonia in Tartu as Himself |
| Metallica: Sick Out Of Studio 2007 Oslo as Self |
| Metallica: from the off as Self |
| Metallica_ Live in Munich, Germany - May 31, 2015 |
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