James Hetfield

James (Alan) Hetfield is singer and guitarist of the group Metallica.

It was born the August 3rd 1963, with Los Angeles in California. He is the son of a driver of heavy trucks of the Nebraska and of a professional singer, both very believers. The death of his/her mother, when it is adolescent, marked it much. It evokes this tragedy in " besides; The God That Failed" a few years later. It is thanks to his/her brother David, older ten years, than it was initiated with the guitar and incidentally with the battery. David Hetfield is indeed beater and guitarist in an amateur group specialized in the recoveries. Moreover James also took some piano lessons under the pressure of his/her mother. Being hardly been willing to follow long studies, James made quantity of odd jobs while playing in transitory local formations (Obsession…). Its first serious group was " Leather Charm" , until its meeting with Lars Ulrich via an advertisement posted in a newspaper called " The Recycler".

Lars had contacts in the world of the heavy metal, one of his/her friends produced a compilation which put in the high-speed motorboat local groups. His/her friend agreed to keep a place to him on the album, but Lars did not have a group yet! The will of James to want to appear on this album makes so that it agrees to form a group with Lars.

June 26th, 1986, it was victim of an accident of skateboard in which it fractures the wrist. it can only sing and had to be made replace by John Marshall, who replaces it when it is into live.

August 8th, 1992, a terrible accident occurs with the Olympic stadium of Montreal when a pyrotechnical effect explodes literally under its feet. James is seriously burned with the hand, the left arm, the face and the back. He is quickly transported to the hospital. Its career of musician and the future of Metallica is in danger. In first part of this concert, Guns NR Pinks was into live. At the end of seven songs, Axl Pink stops the concert, that is transformed into riot and the public undertakes to demolish the stage. On his side, James regenerates himself. It will be John Marshall, a " roadie" of Metallica which will play the guitar to replace James, who for its part will do nothing but sing to finish the round. Thanks to long a Physiotherapy, James could play of the guitar again.

Material

Initially follower of a copy of Gibson Flying V and amplifier Marshall, James then turned to the Explorer (Gibson always) and the amplification Mesa Boogie, considered for his incredible capacity of distortion. During the recording of the album … And Justice For All, James (as Kirk) passed to the guitars ESP and their famous active microphones (EMG-81/81 initially, EMG-60/81 then), clearly changing the quality and the style of their sound. James has from now on a standard collection of ESP Explorer, various colors (black, white) and reasons (flames, diamond punt). He also has two guitars out of wooden natural form to explore " Ken Lawrence" manufactured by the violin maker of the same name. It also uses two ESP Flying V with green and red flames. It recently left a model signature at ESP, the " Truckster" , with form Gibson the Paul. Side amplification, James Hetfield swears only by the Mesa Boogie Triple To rectify, on cabinets of the same mark. Into live, he plays on of Mesa Boogie Triaxis just like Kirk. Its médiators is Dunlop Tortex 0.88mm customized by the impression of the logo of the album corresponding to the period in progress. Level cords, it uses Gibson cords and Ernie Ball with tie 0,10 - 0,46. It is always impressive, into live, to see how much time by concert it changes guitar.

Technique

James Hetfield has a technique of play which is clean for him. Firstly, it carries its very low guitar, just below the between-legs. The fact that it is large and that it often draws aside the legs compensates for this handicapping attitude. Then, he plays almost only in going (blows of médiator downwards), using the return ticket only if speed becomes too important (see “Fight fire with fire”, “One”). Besides he holds his médiator in a rather original way: he holds it with three fingers (inch, index, major), and his hand positions as if he seized a tube. He plays his agreements of power with only the index and the annular one. This technique ensures a powerful and dynamic rhythmic play, which is appropriate perfectly for the style of James and its position in the group. It will be reproduced many times by younger guitarists.

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