James Hetfield is the voice among other things of Metallica's songs, but it wasn't always planned that way. In the early days Metallica tried a few different vocal/guitar configurations. Some of the experiments included adding another guitar player, or having then lead guitar player Dave Mustaine play the sole guitar. John Bush from Armored Saint was even asked to sing for the band at one point. Hetfield was born to a truck driver and light opera singer on August 3rd, 1963 in Los Angeles. His family's Christian Science religious beliefs are often mentioned as the root of James' "tortured soul" lyrics. Musically, he began at age 9 with piano lessons, then banging away on his brother David's drums and finally to guitar. With his guitar in hand, James aspired to become a rock star in his first band, Obsession. The band was made up of the Veloz brothers on bass and drums and Jim Arnold on guitar. A pair of friends, Ron McGovney and Dave Marrs, acted as the band's roadies. This meant sitting in the loft of the Veloz garage running a control panel for makeshift lighting effects. After Obsession broke up, the Marrs-Hetfield-McGovney trio continued jamming together.
Phantom Lord was James Hetfield's second band. After moving to La Brea, James attended Brea Olinda High School and met up with drummer Jim Mulligan. The two would jam at lunch time with another guitar player, but eventually scared him away with their loud and heavy sounds. Hugh Tanner was discovered carrying around part of a flying V guitar at school, and shortly thereafter Phantom Lord was born. With Hugh on guitar and Mulligan on drums, James sang and played guitar. The group went through a few bass players until graduation when James moved back to Downey. In Downey James moved into a house owned by Ron McGovney's parents that was slated for demolition due to an expressway expansion. This house was the perfect place for James and Ron to crash and hold rehearsal and practice jams. James talked Ron into taking up bass, and promised to teach him.
And as Ron joined the group, Phantom Lord was no more they were now Leather Charm. James Hetfield's third band overall, Leather Charm was formed from the members of Phantom Lord, except that James performed sole singing duties (no guitar) and Ron was added to play bass guitar. Completing the line-up were Phantom Lord carry-overs Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan.
Leather Charm was more of a glammy attempt at music. The band played originals and covers like Quiet Riot's "Slick Black Cadillac", Iron Maiden's "Remember Tommorrow" and a few others. The band managed to perform at a few parties and recorded a demo, but then began to fall apart. First Tanner left the band and was replaced by Troy James. Then Mulligan left for a more progressive Rush-like band. With no drummer the band was forced to call it quits. Although it was Mulligan's departure that led to James searching for a new drummer, it was Hugh Tanner that introduced James to Lars Ulrich.
Ultimately it was Leather Charm's break up, through Jim Mulligan's quitting, that led to James and Lars meeting, and to form Metallica. From the very start, James has been the main songwriter in Metallica, from the riffs to the lyrics. When he's not writing, singing or playing, James indulges in hunting and various sports such as snowboarding, as he has hung up his skateboard after a series of mishaps.
Guitars are a major part of his life and he has started collecting older guitars. particularly those manufactured in 1963, the year he was born. He can also be found in his garage working on a new passion hot rods. He currently has a Chevy BelAir that he built himself. James in recent years has taken to the rock 'n' roll fashion of getting "inked" he now sports many many tattoos some of which are pictured below.
Phantom Lord was James Hetfield's second band. After moving to La Brea, James attended Brea Olinda High School and met up with drummer Jim Mulligan. The two would jam at lunch time with another guitar player, but eventually scared him away with their loud and heavy sounds. Hugh Tanner was discovered carrying around part of a flying V guitar at school, and shortly thereafter Phantom Lord was born. With Hugh on guitar and Mulligan on drums, James sang and played guitar. The group went through a few bass players until graduation when James moved back to Downey. In Downey James moved into a house owned by Ron McGovney's parents that was slated for demolition due to an expressway expansion. This house was the perfect place for James and Ron to crash and hold rehearsal and practice jams. James talked Ron into taking up bass, and promised to teach him.
And as Ron joined the group, Phantom Lord was no more they were now Leather Charm. James Hetfield's third band overall, Leather Charm was formed from the members of Phantom Lord, except that James performed sole singing duties (no guitar) and Ron was added to play bass guitar. Completing the line-up were Phantom Lord carry-overs Hugh Tanner and Jim Mulligan.
Leather Charm was more of a glammy attempt at music. The band played originals and covers like Quiet Riot's "Slick Black Cadillac", Iron Maiden's "Remember Tommorrow" and a few others. The band managed to perform at a few parties and recorded a demo, but then began to fall apart. First Tanner left the band and was replaced by Troy James. Then Mulligan left for a more progressive Rush-like band. With no drummer the band was forced to call it quits. Although it was Mulligan's departure that led to James searching for a new drummer, it was Hugh Tanner that introduced James to Lars Ulrich.
Ultimately it was Leather Charm's break up, through Jim Mulligan's quitting, that led to James and Lars meeting, and to form Metallica. From the very start, James has been the main songwriter in Metallica, from the riffs to the lyrics. When he's not writing, singing or playing, James indulges in hunting and various sports such as snowboarding, as he has hung up his skateboard after a series of mishaps.
Guitars are a major part of his life and he has started collecting older guitars. particularly those manufactured in 1963, the year he was born. He can also be found in his garage working on a new passion hot rods. He currently has a Chevy BelAir that he built himself. James in recent years has taken to the rock 'n' roll fashion of getting "inked" he now sports many many tattoos some of which are pictured below.
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