As the founder and frontman of Metallica, James Hetfield spearheaded the thrash metal revolution, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rhythm guitarists of all time.
Since the band’s formation in 1981, Hetfield’s riff-writing and downpicking speed has become the stuff of legend. It’s best showcased on landmark ’80s albums Master of Puppets and …And Justice for All, where it was complemented by lead guitarist Kirk Hammett’s frenetic solos.
As Metallica moved into the ’90s, the band made a swing for the mainstream with the Black Album. It became one of the best-selling albums of all time and cemented the group as the biggest metal band in the world.
Besides his songwriting and technical abilities, Hetfield is also renowned for his monstrous guitar tone, often achieved via a range of EMG-loaded ESP guitars and boutique high-gain amps.
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The first metal band to play the futuristic venue put on a Metallica show like no other, pairing a hit-laden set with some mind-bending visuals
José Arredondo modified amps for some of guitar’s biggest stars. Dave Friedman’s Jose amp pays tribute to this elusive legend and makes his formerly secret mods available to everyone
Award-winning session player Ben Mink – who missed out on playing guitar for Chuck Berry by a coin-toss, and took up violin after meeting Jimmy Page – can’t believe he’s managed to pay the rent for over 50 years
In an attempt to explore new musical directions, Hammett was summoned to share rhythm guitar duties with James Hetfield, helping to kickstart a new phase for Metallica
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett explain the origins of the Big 4 shows – which united Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax on one historic bill
Keenan was one of many hopefuls to try out for the Metallica gig as James Hetfield and co looked to find Jason Newsted's replacement
Following the death of the sorely missed Cliff Burton, James Hetfield and co. auditioned the bassist of the then-emerging band Primus
Updated sets for James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo will only be available in 2026
The Smashing Pumpkins guitar icon reflects on a tonal journey four decades in the making, what pushes him to make signature gear like the new Laney Supergrace affordable, and why he’s the most excited he’s been to make a guitar album in 25 years
