<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar World in James-hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/tag/james-hetfield Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:28:54 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “The downpicking approach was inspired by competition between Dave and I. Like, ‘Here’s a riff… Wait, you can’t play that. Hahaha!’” How James Hetfield wrangled Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax for metal’s biggest reunion ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/james-hetfield-kirk-hammett-big-four-concert-interview S2XRC8buQC9yrXVoVdKsGT Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:28:54 +0000 Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:53:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can still see them shaking their heads. I knew I’d lost the gig right there”: Pepper Keenan recalls the moment he knew he’d failed his audition to be Metallica’s bassist ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/pepper-keenan-failed-metallica-audition BpeDvqp7ffgWE5usvMsS7b Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:20:13 +0000 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:41:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We played a song or two, and I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to jam on some Isley Brothers?’ Nobody laughed”: Les Claypool looks back on his disastrous Metallica audition ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/les-claypool-looks-back-on-his-disastrous-metallica-audition f7RKEZ5SwQ8N4nsS2DexF9 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:27:22 +0000 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:46:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can put them in every guitar, and it’s gonna sound exactly like I need it to”: Metallica has rolled out something special to help celebrate 50 years of EMG ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitar-pickups/metallica-2026-limited-edition-pickups 6guVnd8YDZMt4fDAjNVS3Z Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:50:01 +0000 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:55:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ed was under the same pressure we all were. You can play your old gear, but it sounds old”: Billy Corgan on what drives guitar heroes to change their tone – and how it led him to package his sound in a pedal ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/billy-corgan-smashing-pumpkins-laney-supergrace-guitar-tone-journey sin4xAcceGSS9gyQaxYkZT Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:20:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:28:03 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He told him to keep playing and never stop”: The heartwarming moment James Hetfield met a 10-year-old superfan ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/james-hetfield-meets-10-year-old-superfan-jacob-k EPWFPp9ygBWhbmRBEWe4HT Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:01:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He took offense to that and we hung up, and I don't remember speaking to him since then”: Ahead of Megadeth's final album, Dave Mustaine sets the record straight on why he and James Hetfield don’t talk anymore ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/dave-mustaine-on-why-he-and-james-hetfield-do-not-talk-anymore TWn52ToDvANdiin8n6jRtc Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:27:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “For James Hetfield fans, this guitar is a no-brainer”: Epiphone Explorer 80s EMG review ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/epiphone-explorer-80s-emg-review QzyKpE8iLBz34LRBi7BhNf Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:48:57 +0000 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:35:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Kirk Hammett’s in front of me with a guitar trying to teach me stuff. They’re like, ‘Get your stuff. You’re flying on the private jet with us’”: Daron Malakian on the time he saved a Metallica gig – and ended up filling in for an injured James Hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/daron-malakians-metallica-cameo mnDBLXPDNNztNKA8RgFnZA Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:16:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I saw Ace Frehley bending backwards doing a solo. That’s when it clicked with me: ‘I wanna be a rock guy now!’” Inspired by Kiss, Metallica and Dokken, DRAIN’s Cody Chavez is the hardcore hero who isn’t afraid to shred ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/cody-chavez-drain-is-your-friend LBES3UniHhJkRixZgNQFhX Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:21:55 +0000 Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:23:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We built 19 different models. He more or less changed what we were doing”: EMG founder on why this Metallica guitarist’s pickup set was the most challenging he’s ever made ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitar-pickups/emgs-rob-turner-on-the-hardest-pickups-hes-ever-had-to-make ebrWDNrSZDJXXn5sjTkALE Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:04:03 +0000 Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:59:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Let’s hop to it”: James Hetfield wins Halloween by donning inflatable kangaroo costume to rip through a thrash classic – and he doesn’t miss a beat ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/james-hetfield-plays-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-dressed-as-a-kangaroo z47j8xZky43j7uf8cXx4Kc Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:53:59 +0000 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:45:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was about completing the circle and us showing what James and I as guitar players did to change the world”: Dave Mustaine reveals why Megadeth are covering Metallica on their final album ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-mustaine-on-why-megadeth-are-covering-metallica-ride-the-lightning LaYFqyKWesyxsaAt2oH6ZQ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:53:14 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:35:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “ESP asked me to pyrograph James Hetfield’s Explorer. I wasn’t sure who James was, but I said yes”: Meet Dino Muradian, the pyrographer who makes a living burning artwork into stars’ guitars ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitars/dino-muradian-pyrographed-guitars WciNbfQaFpb9UW6oz65QDG Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:42:57 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:45:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Theory C: it’s a scoop knob... they built James’ parametric EQ into the amp”: Metallica spark a Mesa/Boogie mystery as unidentified amp spotted in 50th Anniversary message to ESP Guitars. Could this be a James Hetfield signature? ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/amps/metallica-kirk-hammett-and-james-hetfield-reveal-mystery-mesa-boogie-amp-in-esp-guitars-shout-out 9Sn2itjoxTFfnBPasuyGjJ Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:50:41 +0000 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:42:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Recreating this piece of metal history wasn’t just a challenge, it was a privilege”: Jason Momoa orders super-gnarly replica of James Hetfield’s iconic Elektra OGV – and this Polish luthier recreated every last detail ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/jason-momoa-krupi-guitars-replica-of-metallica-james-hetfield-elektra-ogv-flying-v-copy YkQZ7gkMNiFjNnKrL7x9yH Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:45:08 +0000 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:59:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Hetfield personally hooked me up with them back in the day. I’m not cheating on anyone. I want all the instruments!” Gojira’s Joe Duplantier explains how he started playing ESP guitars – and why he’s still playing Charvels ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/joe-duplantier-how-he-started-playing-esp-guitars zxzN6heqwYdMhBidX8WQAG Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:30:31 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:55:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The idea is Kirk was gonna play rhythms along with James. That changed everything, and some people don’t like it”: Bob Rock says Metallica's divisive Load album redefined the Hetfield-Hammett guitar partnership ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/bob-rock-explains-how-load-changed-metallica-as-guitar-players QmFqFhWxokhyVJ7QemESjW Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:39:04 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:37:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If you think about the approach to guitar I’m known for, it seems to have little in common with Hetfield’s. But I would argue that it has much to do with it”: What funk maestro Cory Wong learned from James Hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/artist-lessons/cory-wong-on-what-he-learned-from-james-hetfield-of-metallica C755uvQZN278ESqmCzjMr9 Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:52:35 +0000 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:12:12 +0000 <![CDATA[ “EET PHO”: Wes Borland cosplays as an ’80s-era James Hetfield while opening for Metallica – complete with a custom troll guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/wes-borland-cosplays-as-james-hetfield-while-supporting-metallica YpWMUdAVLPsX6G3nC3BwTj Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:12:47 +0000 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:37:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Most of these dudes don’t fall quite as far as I did. They don’t develop a meth habit and end up shoveling dog s**t for $6 an hour”: Gary Holt on his thrash metal redemption story, balancing Exodus and Slayer – and why even Hetfield cheats on downpicking ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/gary-hold-on-exodus-slayer-and-his-new-autobiography-a-fabulous-disaster y5SajqYhuo7YPZYbpf7tre Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:53:58 +0000 Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:05:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ Want to play Master of Puppets the right way? Here's how to get faster at downpicking so you can chug like James Hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/techniques/downpicking C8Hru9Dqi6MiYiEuyFvy9c Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:15:59 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:35:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He took a bass to Jason Newsted. James kept flipping it back and forth, studying it… Then he asked if we could meet”: How Ken Lawrence came to build some of James Hetfield’s most iconic guitars – including one using wood from Metallica’s former home ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/ken-lawrence-james-hetfield-guitars r4mNo2mXS2WLj7Jd8KnHpR Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:26:52 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:16:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We kind of dug it, but a lot of places didn’t like Metallica. They were like, ‘What the hell is this?’” When Metallica hit the road for their first national tour, crowds weren’t convinced by their music ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/raven-on-touring-with-metallica-in-1983 DbXNDeu32UzxGM7FDNWhTU Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:15:41 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:13:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I auditioned for a guitar commission with a carload of basses! I laid them all out on the floor, and he went, ‘OK, let's make a guitar’”: James Hetfield's luthier on how he went from crafting basses to becoming the Metallica guitarist's go-to axe maker ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/ken-lawrence-on-how-he-went-from-crafting-basses-to-becoming-james-hetfield-go-to-axe-maker U4gePFYRrerBAet2yLejMH Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:15:47 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:04:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’ve jammed with him at Kirk’s place. I’ve spent a night at his house and we’ve ended up with guitars in the kitchen”: Jerry Cantrell and James Hetfield have talked about making an album together ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/jerry-cantrell-james-hetfield-album wMRrDj6RwUJmERyNgvaQki Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:45:30 +0000 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:46:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Jason and I were always battling for the same space in the mix”: The controversial mixing of Metallica’s …And Justice for All wasn’t a hazing of Jason Newsted. This is James Hetfield’s explanation ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/metallica-and-justice-for-all-bass-mix k7PJXTmfnz5DjSMkgyg9YV Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:10:00 +0000 Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:45:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I called looking for advice. He tells me, ‘Just wait, I’ve got a surprise for you’”: Gibson’s mystery Metallica-inspired Explorer hasn’t gone to James Hetfield – it’s been gifted to a Hollywood superstar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/gibson-ceo2-jason-momoa JArrDD8Gjzn88gqNKsgqoL Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:51:07 +0000 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:18:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Well, yesterday was nuts”: Metallica pull out all the stops for All Within My Hands charity gig – bringing out oddball Danelectros, Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament and rarities ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/concerts-gigs-tours/metallica-all-within-my-hands-show-2024 SmGtnDBifs6o9fXLD4kqwG Mon, 16 Dec 2024 17:20:03 +0000 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:23:16 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I don’t think James would rip anything off from me, but the first time I heard that song, I was like, ‘That’s awfully close’”: Billy Corgan reckons this Metallica track sounds suspiciously similar to a Smashing Pumpkins deep cut ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/billy-corgan-on-james-hetfield-metallica-smashing-pumpkins Q5DGvLGFkp2hDBP3Zy5oJZ Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:42:20 +0000 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:25:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I went to Lars’ house, and he played me the tape of Hit the Lights. I said, ‘This song sucks. You need more guitar solos’”: They forged a new sound, and in 10 years, they were the biggest band in the world ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/metallica-the-first-10-years 55CZ987auvR5dwLXt9JzeJ Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:02:01 +0000 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:22:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Reveal coming soon”: At long lost, is Gibson finally working on James Hetfield signature guitars? ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/gibson-james-hetfield-signature-models-tease hE3dS2SP8mQbatPK7tKxrb Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:25:30 +0000 Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:37:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We never would have written guitar harmonies like that without Cliff Burton”: James Hetfield credits Metallica’s original bassist with expanding the band’s horizons ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/cliff-burton-metallica-battery Eq6k9sTFeFewy3isgua8WS Sat, 30 Nov 2024 11:08:00 +0000 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:38:13 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It's scary when you haven't played for quite a while and can't remember the riff to Seek & Destroy”: James Hetfield reflects on the anxieties he experienced after stepping away from the guitar for too long ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/james-hetfield-guitar-playing-anxieties uNDN8kchBfYSHU6eS9N3J8 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:59:35 +0000 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:45:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There's various tunings, and also things that happen naturally, like strings breaking and guitars going out of tune”: Metallica are currently touring with a whopping 64 guitars – and 36 need to be ready to go at any given moment ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/metallica-64-touring-guitars 3jM4wkDQaRAc3xNHDy8TDa Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:52:31 +0000 Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:57:36 +0000 <![CDATA[ “They were waiting for him to state his place in the band. When the reaction didn't come, that was the way the album turned out”: Metallica producer offers a theory for Jason Newsted’s inaudible bass on …And Justice For All ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/jason-newstead-and-justice-for-all-bass-theory F7qoLRqFpLoeE4nx9Et7hS Fri, 21 Jun 2024 14:16:24 +0000 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:02:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The guitar neck is made of rubber, and there are only two strings on it”: James Hetfield opens up on the guitar-based anxiety dreams he had ahead of Metallica’s recent tour ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/james-hetfield-guitar-anxiety-dreams NEmpgjp6bZ6XYGifyYTFsZ Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:56:41 +0000 Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:49:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I put this riff on it, which people are telling me is the birth of thrash metal or something”: Queen’s Stone Cold Crazy comes full circle with a live punk rendition by The Offspring and Brian May ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/queen-brian-may-the-offspring-starmus-festival-slovakia td6qnvxUinEpcH7WD8u7cG Tue, 21 May 2024 10:56:59 +0000 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:40:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was funny when I first met James Hetfield. I was like, ‘Thank you for teaching me how to play guitar. You paved the way for me’”: Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/mastodon-bill-kelliher-meeting-guitar-heroes-james-hetfield DoF9zTUKGANZhEDGFvhhP8 Wed, 15 May 2024 16:01:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “James really absorbed the dual-harmony thing and took it to heart. He made it his but it was originally Cliff’s”: Kirk Hammett on Joe Satriani’s influence and Metallica’s ’84 masterpiece Ride the Lightning ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/metallica-ride-the-lightning-kirk-hammett y7fxxZUfztZsuSTwRt6jsM Fri, 10 May 2024 09:07:48 +0000 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:31:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Without him, there would be no Metallica”: James Hetfield has had Lemmy's ashes tattooed onto his middle finger ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/james-hetfield-lemmy-ashes-tattoo 4ZbXf7BR3ZuxbUxcgmizVf Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:32:48 +0000 Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:41:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for Master of Puppets”: Mark Tremonti on how Metallica's classic record changed his life – and how James Hetfield's right hand shaped his picking style ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/mark-tremonti-on-metallica aY3Bckd6P4GjZaKMm8cZmA Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:27:26 +0000 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 15:33:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s called Roman because of the Roman numerals I etched into the back”: James Hetfield owns five ’59 Gibson Les Paul Standard ’Bursts – and he’s carved a massive ‘12’ into one of them ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/james-hetfield-gibson-les-paul-burst-carved-12 bhnpCLaBRtmZNUjHkfJnVZ Mon, 04 Dec 2023 11:16:12 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:21:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We didn’t have another band to point to and say, well, Sabbath is using it or the Scorpions are using it. James had the foresight to say, ‘Let’s try it. Maybe we’re the people to embrace it’”: James Hetfield’s tech shows you his 72 Seasons live rig ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/metallica-chad-zaemisch-72-seasons-live-guitar-rig YNLQD7NZANoq6mdGZQnEij Thu, 23 Nov 2023 12:43:13 +0000 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:54:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The Double-Neck Montreal makes me think of the smell of your own burning flesh”: James Hetfield opens up about the agony of his 1992 pyro accident, and how his scorched ESP left a lasting legacy on Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/james-hetfield-double-neck-montreal-pyro-accident PfxGHgRJy97W6ucYpww4B4 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 11:21:57 +0000 Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:21:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ “How can you possibly be satisfied being a singer when you play like that?”: Dave Mustaine recalls the first time he heard James Hetfield play guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/dave-mustaine-first-time-he-saw-james-hetfield-play-guitar 9tPHodGzk49geHEJUyJvcX Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:38:06 +0000 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 15:59:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Hetfield would say, ‘Dude, get that bass s**t happening!’ It was a breathin'-down-your-neck type of thing...” Jason Newsted on the making of Metallica’s Load album ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/jason-newsted-on-the-making-of-metallica-load iBvCxdpBtMCBJrcJYxu2UB Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:02:36 +0000 Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:54:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ 10 Metallica guitar techniques you need to know ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/10-metallica-guitar-techniques-you-need-to-know racAbd7GJT8jf6HfpMFEqE Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:46:41 +0000 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 10:50:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ The guitar gear secrets behind James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett’s tones on 72 Seasons ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/features/greg-fidelman-metallica-72-seasons-gear-secrets vJKDvhYyUMRH4QYMBFJCqL Fri, 12 May 2023 11:11:50 +0000 Mon, 29 Jul 2024 15:45:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ James Hetfield recalls Dimebag Darrell introducing him to solid-state amps: “He had this freaking amazing crunch going on” ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/news/james-hetfield-dimebag-darrell-solid-state-amps ru3aFka4EJFNVuivPNFHZH Wed, 03 May 2023 13:54:37 +0000