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James Hetfield vs Dazed Digital

The legendary Metallica frontman talks to Tim Noakes about his life, from his dark childhood and 80s excesses, to his worst fashion crimes and ongoing musical competition with Lars and Kirk.

Text by Tim Noakes Film Direction by Tim Noakes Film Editing by Michael Oswald   |   Published 21 July 2009

The music industry may have changed, but Metallica have somehow managed to outlast grunge, Britpop and their metal contemporaries to remain one of the world’s most revered and highest-grossing rock acts. Sure, there have been a lot of dodgy haircuts, line-up shuffles, stints in rehab, dubious albums, a crusade against internet music piracy, and a car crash documentary in the interim, but to millions of people around the world, lead singer James Hetfield is still considered one  of the most influential musicians of the last 25 years. In this exclusive video interview the legendary metal frontman talks to Tim Noakes about his life in Metallica, from his dark childhood and 80s excesses, to his worst fashion crimes and ongoing musical competition with Lars and Kirk.

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  • Charles (23/07/2009 06:13:28)

    Wow! Machine Head rocking in the background! But anyways, what is the T-shirt James is wearing?

  • bigjeff (23/07/2009 07:04:04)

    Dude, that was something, pity is wasnt longer

  • Ugluk (23/07/2009 08:43:23)

    It looks like mother Mary as a skeleton :D it's cool. Sometimes I wonder if he's so religious, or is he making a joke with that.

  • Marlon Poland (23/07/2009 13:54:43)

    James wear T-shirt with St.Mary Mother of Christ

  • visazine (23/07/2009 18:15:21)

    I love this man. (And interview is really good, others rarely reach that level.)

  • adam (23/07/2009 19:12:47)

    i want to see more

  • donny g (27/07/2009 02:29:43)

    METALLICA=THE GOLD STANDARD.........STILL !!

  • Thais (27/07/2009 05:01:41)

    I love metallica, and I love James, i don't give a shit if is wearing a Mary t shirt...or if he is religious..

  • Colin (27/07/2009 06:18:28)

    Yeah!! MH playing 'Slanderous' in the backgroud.

  • cmoney (27/07/2009 07:33:53)

    whats that clip of a song playing at the very end?

  • Booger (27/07/2009 07:55:44)

    If you guys paid attention at all you would have realized that the camera zoomed in on his shirt (1:22 mark) and its actually a skeleton on his shirt, not Mary. The song at the end is the middle section of "To Live is to Die" from ...And Justice for All. one of my most favorite parts of any metallica song.

  • Liz Monster (27/07/2009 08:42:48)

    Holy shit, I love James Hetfield c: He looks amazing with his mohawk, too. And yes his shirt is fucking awesome, i want one for myself, i don't mind taking crap from offended religious weirdos, haha. You go James, we love you ^-^

  • iGore (27/07/2009 09:46:57)

    this is so terrible editing, sound is shit too. and video stuck all the time. hey, dude, u do it for people, don't u? if u do it for self ego, go fuck urslef i stopped whatching @ 2.55 min

  • hilarie. (28/07/2009 01:37:33)

    okayy. that dude down there, iGore...weido. if your gonna take time to comment at least have something better to say. but anyways, iloveee metallica!!!!!!!!!! james has the most amazing voice i have ever heard and the band is also just the best. of course it probably wouldnt mean much to them comin from a 16 year old,, but im still a huge fan and i deeply appriciate their music. it never gets old or boring to listen to, ;] their my favoritee. so just keep rockin on!! -hilarie!

  • Neelam Pradhan (28/07/2009 05:00:08)

    Hey Good God METALLICA........... I LOve u SOoooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.. the intrview is awesome. n the movie some kind of monster was kool.. i like n respect their side of feelings n emotions... I go Gigga 4 Metallica. n all the albumns hav their own sound of magic. i love james' voice, man it kills u. i go so deep in it.. Kirk's Guitar, Lars'Drums n Rob's Bass... Love their style..M so much in love wit u Metallica, my evry thing in life has Metallica. Room, shirts, games, posters, mobiles, all.. i jus wish if Metallica read this n come to kno that even in a small country like Bhutan, there is a gal Neelam so much in love them.. n my brother too.. We Love u.. Wish u ALL THE BEST... waiting 4 ur new albumns.. I LOVE U.. N yea, that shirt is kool.. Neelam, Neelamica..lol

  • dan (03/08/2009 05:20:53)

    james is the shit i dont care what anyone says about metallica there the shit and his shirt is badass

  • Worm (07/08/2009 19:12:46)

    Yap, it's a t-shirt with St. Mary printed on. Nice little thing that bears true heavy metal spirit. Does that mean that James wanted to show some kind of piety? God, no! Old bigots in buses used to stare with hatred at my friend who has a same one. It's not a big deal. Just looks goddamn cool }:>

  • Damian73 (16/08/2009 00:12:26)

    Metallica were so fuckin bas ass 20 years ago. All the people that only know them post "The Black Album" Missed the fuck out. Sad but true. ha ha ha!

  • MHetfield (26/10/2009 19:50:29)

    I just LOVE him so much! He's THE MAN you know? He's awesome. By the way, for all of you who wonder about his t-shirt, he's wearing the Virgen Guadalupe as a skull, I recognised it because I'm mexican and that my friend is Virgen de Guadalupe, I like it and I want one. I'm so crazy about him bad hair day or with flip flops, he's my man!

  • HOOLIE GIRL (15/11/2009 00:10:48)

    My husband, Brian, has a shriveled penis. I don't care tooo much, I have a dry pooter and hemmoroids.

  • HOOLIE GIRL (15/11/2009 00:16:10)

    HI. MY NAME IS HOOLIE GIRL, OR, AS SOME KNOW ME DARCY. I AM AN ALCOHOLIC AND ENJOYING IT. I AM AN OVER THE HILL (53 YEAR OLD) RETIRED SLUT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL AND SMELL LIKE A DUMPSTER AT THE FISH MAKET.

  • HOOLIE GIRL Embroidery (15/11/2009 00:27:27)

    Hoolie Girl Embroidery/ . I will lick any mans balls that will buy a t-shirt from me.