His parents were divorced, and at a young age, he lost his mother to cancer. He grew up hunting, playing guitar, and was an ordinary quiet kid. Lars Ulrich put out an ad in 1981 in a newspaper asking somebody to jam out and listen to rock music with him and he replied. Lars and James hooked up, and started the band, Metallica.


Member of The National Rifle Association. Vocalist and guitarist for the heavy metal band Metallica. Metallica's hit 1991 song "Enter Sandman" was inspired by fears and nightmares Hetfield had as a child. His wife is from Argentina and is a former costumer for his band Metallica. Children: (with wife Francesca) Cali Tee Hetfield, (b. June 13, 1998 at 8 lbs 4 oz & 20 inches in San Francisco, California), Castor Virgil Hetfield, (b. May 18, 2000 at 9 lbs 6 oz & 22 1/2 inches in San Francisco, California) and Marcella Francesca Hetfield (b. January 17, 2002 at 8 lbs 5 oz & 21 1/4 inches in San Francisco, California). Is of English, German, and Irish descent.