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The Latest Breaking News from James Hetfield

“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

It was theorized that Gibson was crafting a Custom Shop Explorer inspired by Hetfield’s “So What” model ahead of some signature models, but that wasn't the case...

Guitar World

“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

Corgan says Hetfield has “written some of the greatest, most amazing riffs” of all time, but one cut from 1997 sounds awfully familiar...

Guitar World

Watch Metallica perform rarities at 2024 Helping Hands event in Los Angeles

The 4th edition of Metallica's Helping Hands charity show featured guest appearance from Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament

Metal Hammer

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read the most diverse news in one place.

“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

The story of Metallica's meteoric rise – as told by the people who were there, including Dave Mustaine, Scott Ian, Kerry King, Gary Holt, and, of course, Metallica themselves

Guitar World

“Reveal coming soon”: At long lost, is Gibson finally working on James Hetfield signature guitars?

The Metallica frontman is poised to receive a Gibson Custom Shop creation that pays homage to his famed ‘So What’ 1984 Explorer. Could signature guitars be next?

Guitar World

“It was finally time to see if we could do a second build of this revered Boogie”: The iconic Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC+ is officially back – 40 years after the holy grail high-gain amp was last produced

Beloved by James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, John Petrucci, Steve Lukather and countless others, the original IIC+ is one of the most coveted amps ever created… and now it has finally been revived

Guitar World

“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

Cliff Burton’s breakneck metal riff laid down the gauntlet on thrash metal classic Battery

Guitar World

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Watch Metallica's James Hetfield playfully do his best Rob Halford impression with the help of a helium balloon during the making of St. Anger

Papa Het can't quite reach the Judas Priest frontman's high notes without a little assistance, but nevertheless he gives it his best shot in this behind the scenes clip from Metallica's 2003 St. Anger sessions

Metal Hammer

“Cliff was the strongest of the four of us emotionally”: Lars Ulrich on how Metallica recovered from the death of bassist Cliff Burton

And how they chose Cliff’s replacement among 60 candidates

MusicRadar

19 hit songs hated by the musicians who wrote them

THE LIST: We all have those tunes that just get under our skin, but what happens when it’s one you came up with in the first place? Kevin E G Perry and Roisin O’Connor take a look at artists who’ve come to loathe their own creations

The Independent UK

“An incredibly versatile tone shaping tool”: Supercool Pedals puts a new spin on the famed distortion box beloved by James Hetfield, Dave Grohl and Nuno Bettencourt

With the help of expanded controls and a new Turbo mode, the Barstow Bat promises to nail the ProCo Rat’s tones and then some

Guitar World

“There was a very real chance that James wouldn’t be coming back. And all that time we spent waiting was horrible”: The tumultuous inside story of Metallica’s St Anger album

In 2003, Metal Hammer flew to New York to interview Metallica ahead of St Anger. We found a band who were bruised, battered but defiant

Metal Hammer

“The sonic equivalent of a fist-fight between James Hetfield and Alex Lifeson”: October 2024 Guitar World editors’ picks

The hot new tracks and deep cuts GW editors have been listening to this month

Guitar World

James Hetfield vows Metallica will never be "a legacy band"

New music is a vital part of the package that thrash metal icons Metallica want to keep giving their fans

Metal Hammer

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MusicRadar

“We know people want to hear the best-of... we don’t want to be a legacy band that just plays its greatest hits and then that’s it”: James Hetfield on why Metallica will always play new songs

James Hetfield on why Metallica will never be a 'legacy' band

Metal Hammer

“I am absolutely proud of it. It was a big risk for us. Everything good usually is”: How Metallica tried to reinvent the rock movie with Through The Never

2013 was a banner year for Metallica – a brand new record label, their first gigs in China and the ambitious but divisive 3D movie Through The Never

Metal Hammer

“I’ve seen a lot of things. Supernatural things. I’ve seen the place between heaven and hell”: The outrageous life of King Diamond, the occult metal icon Metallica love and Gene Simmons wanted to sue

Hauntings, heart attacks, exorcisms and lawsuits – King Diamond looks back on 40 years as Satan’s Little Helper

Metal Hammer

“We’d gone from being broke musicians to having James Hetfield slapping me on the back, saying, ‘Hey man, great album’”: How Corrosion Of Conformity ditched hardcore and embraced southern metal with Deliverance

The story of Corrosion Of Conformity’s Metallica-approved 1994 album Deliverance

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Guitar World

“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

Speaking to GW in 1996, the always-candid Hetfield recounted how Metallica's post-Black Album break left him “vegging”, and out of practice

Louder

"His kid goes to our kid’s school, he's a lovely guy": how Metallica's Robert Trujillo and James singer Tim Booth became unexpected lunch buddies

The James frontman has been hanging out with the Metallica man in LA

Metal Hammer

“Cliff still lives in all of us. I ask for his help still.” James Hetfield says that Cliff Burton still influences Metallica's songwriting, almost four decades on from the bassist's tragic death in 1986, aged 24

James Hetfield acknowledges that Cliff Burton's influence on Metallica will never die

Metal Hammer

“Lars called me, and you’re on a shortlist”: Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson was in the running to replace Jason Newsted in Metallica

Megadeth’s David Ellefson was shortlisted to join Metallica in 2003 – and he found out because Dave Mustaine told him

Metal Hammer

The four horsemen ride! Metallica announce 2025 North American tour, including Sick New World and Sonic Temple festivals

Metallica will continue their M72 world tour as they trek across North America next year

Metal Hammer

“I didn’t want James Hetfield to smell the alcohol on me”: Robert Trujillo stayed up drinking until 5am before his Metallica audition

The day before auditioning for the biggest band in metal, Trujillo was up partying all night with Lars Ulrich

Metal Hammer

Metallica’s James Hetfield, actor in new western film, doesn’t seem to like acting: “Next time I’m asked to do something like this, remind me to say no”

Hetfield has a role in western thriller The Thicket, currently in cinemas, alongside Game Of Thrones star Peter Dinklage

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