Hetfield identifies Aerosmith as having been his main musical influence as a child, and has said they were the reason he wanted to play guitar.

He was also in a few bands as a teenager – one being Leather Charm, and another, Obsession. Hetfield was nine years old when he first began piano lessons, after which he took on his half-brother David's drums and finally, at the age of 14, he began to play guitar with Robert Okner. Hetfield attended Downey High School for his freshman and sophomore years and graduated from Brea Olinda High School in 1981. Virgil died in late 1996, during Metallica's Load tour. After the death of his mother, Hetfield went to live with his older half-brother David. Cynthia died of cancer in 1979 when Hetfield was 16 years old. And Justice for All and Metallica respectively. This upbringing became the inspiration for many of Hetfield's lyrics during his career with Metallica, most notably in the songs ' Dyers Eve' and ' The God That Failed' from. They were very strict Christian Scientists, and in accordance with their beliefs, they strongly disapproved of medicine or any other medical treatment and remained loyal to their faith, even as Cynthia was dying from cancer. His parents divorced in 1976 when Hetfield was 13.

He has two older half-brothers from his mother's first marriage and one younger sister. He is of English, German, Irish, and Scottish descent. Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, California, the son of Cynthia Bassett ( née Nourse), a light opera singer, and Virgil Lee Hetfield, a truck driver. Rolling Stone placed him as the 87th greatest guitarist 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. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time. 8 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists and No. Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards and released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering an advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler. He is mainly known for his intricate rhythm playing, but occasionally performs lead guitar duties and solos, both live and in the studio. James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder and main songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica.

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