Early Life: Hetfield was born in Downey, California, to Cynthia (née Bassett), a light opera singer, and Virgil Lee Hetfield, a truck driver. He has two older sisters, Deana and Chris. His parents divorced when he was young, and he and his sisters were raised by their mother. Hetfield began playing the piano at age 9, and he started playing the drums at age 12.
Metallica: In 1981, Hetfield moved to Los Angeles and formed Metallica with drummer Lars Ulrich. Metallica quickly gained a following in the underground metal scene, and their debut album, *Kill 'Em All* (1983), is considered a landmark release in the genre. Metallica has since released 10 studio albums, four live albums, and numerous other releases, and has sold over 125 million albums worldwide, making them one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time.
Musical Style: Hetfield is known for his powerful, aggressive vocal style, and his distinctive rhythm guitar playing. He often uses a "downpicking" technique, in which he picks all the strings in a downward motion. Hetfield's lyrics are often dark and introspective, and they frequently deal with themes of violence, death, and addiction.
Personal Life: Hetfield married Francesca Tomasi in 1997, and they have three children together. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and anger management, and he has credited therapy and the support of his family and friends with helping him overcome these challenges.
Hetfield is an avid outdoorsman, and he enjoys hunting, fishing, and hiking. He is also a fan of classic cars, and he owns a collection of vintage muscle cars.