Mark Eglinton - So Let It Be Written: The Biography of Metallicas James Hetfield

Copyright 2010, 2017 Mark Eglinton

first published in the united states of america in 2017 by :

Lesser Gods, 15 W. 36th St., 8th Fl., New York, NY 10018,

an imprint of Overamstel Publishers, Inc.

phone (646) 850-4201

www.lessergodsbooks.com

Originally published in the United Kingdom by

Independent Music Press in 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means

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consent of the publisher.

distributed by: Consortium Book Sales & Distribution,

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first u.s. updated edition april 2017

isbn : 978-1-944713-33-1

library of congress control number: 2017930070

Foreword

I cant remember the exact year it was when we all first met, but I know it was way before Metallica came into their own and became the band that they are today. Having mutual friends, we used to go to a lot of New Years parties and such. Seeing James perform for the first time I was truly taken aback. It was great watching this guy perform. I went to the party expecting to see James singing and playing guitar, but he was playing drums, which blew me away. He was even cooler now than before. James made a huge imprint on the Bay Area with his distinct sound and attitude. He used to perform with the band Spastic Children, whose lead singer was Fred Cotton. Back then it really was all about good times and fun. From day one, James was the guy who started the movement and carried it out to the finish. In my mind he is one of the best, if not the best, metal guitarist/lyricists, for sure.

Thinking back, I can remember the moment when I knew that Metallica had really hit it big. I was playing in a basketball league at my local gyma gym that happened to serve beer, by the way. After the game was over they were going to debut the new Metallica video. They dropped down a 50-inch projection screen and we waited. The video started. This was the first time I experienced the Metallica video for Enter Sandman. For the band that never did videos and didnt care about airplay, they sure made one hell of a video! Watching it I said to myself, Holy Smokes . I knew from then on that Metallica was going to be one of the biggest bands ever.

Another story about James and Metallica that I will never forget took place on a sunny Sunday during our normal tailgate party for the Oakland Raiders. Every Sunday we all used to get together and tailgate before the games. On this particular Sunday, a rumor was going around that Metallica was going to be playing in the parking lot prior to the game. When I heard this I immediately thought it was bullshit, but people seemed to be sure that it was going to happen. Sure enough, on the other side of the parking lot there was a flatbed truck that was sealed up on all sides. Something was going on. When I saw the cars parked by the truck and I saw Hetfield get out, the grin on his face said it all. The next thing we knew the Metallica guys were heading into the flatbed. Within minutes, the front opened up and there was Metallica playing live at the tailgate of a Raiders game. This experience was totally mind-blowing and it is something that I will never forget.

Thats one of the coolest things about James and Metallica. No matter how massive they have gotten, they still do unique things, like playing a tailgate party or countless other special gigs for their fans. Hopefully this book will rekindle certain special memories about one of metals most charismatic and important individuals.

Chuck Billy of Testament

INTRODUCTION

James Hetfield is an unsung virtuoso. His guitar and vocal sound, along with his song ideas, have enabled Metallica to go from being classified alongside Motrhead and Venom, to being aligned with Bruce Springsteen and U2.

Those are the words of Alex Skolnickguitarist in the thrash metal band Testament and a member of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Skolnick is a virtuoso himself and an astute commentator on the world of rock music. Hetfield and Metallica went from the underground to thrash metals top tier in 1986, and had even greater impact later in their career.

However, if youd asked me in 1986 whether I expected to write about the life and career of James Hetfield, the answer would have been no. When I met that distinctly guarded guy that year after a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse in Scotland, I never imagined he would become a rock icon alongside Bono and Springsteen.

A lot has changed in thirty years, and the result is this: the first definitive biography of James Hetfield, front man of Metallica, by far the biggest heavy rock band of the modern era.

September 12, 1986: Metallica along with New York thrashers Anthrax were playing on their Damage, Inc. Tour to open-mouthed metal audiences throughout Europe. This tour changed the fabric of heavy music, with far more emphasis placed on speed and downright aggression thereafter. By this time in their career, Metallica had acquired a knack for complex song structures, and this combination of intelligence and ferocity was a killer mix.

However, this was no normal tour. Hetfield had broken his left wrist in a skateboarding accident. The result was a plaster cast, which ruled out guitar-playing for much of the tour.

Fortunately, John Marshallguitar technician for Kirk Hammett, Metallicas other guitaristfilled in on rhythm guitar duties from somewhere in the wings while the band raged onstage. Hetfield was limited to singing. Later in the tour, and despite his initial reluctance, Marshall joined the band onstage, which must have been a surreal experience given the frenzied atmosphere at these seminal shows.

Hetfields now legendary ability as a rhythm guitarist of almost inhuman precision was the one thing we didnt witness that night. However, his barked vocals and intimidating stage presence left a lasting impression.

After the show, Hetfield and the late Cliff Burton, Metallicas bass player at the time, wandered into a bar down the street from the venue, where a few of us were drinking and discussing the gig. Through a haze of time and alcohol, I vaguely recall a brief chat ensuing between the two of them. Burton was the more forthcoming of the two. Hetfield was somewhat distant. That didnt matter, though, as meeting members of the band after such a life-changing show was a huge bonus. Our paths had crossed, though to them, it must have been just another forgettable encounter with fans.

The raw, evolving Metallica of 1986 were a very different band from the monster they would become. Their commercial zenith was still five years away. Similarly, the band members have grown over time, impacted by their huge commercial success and its accompanying public scrutiny. From day one, though, the driving force behind Metallica has been the axis of Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. Their personal relationship has often been strained, which isnt surprising given their wildly different backgrounds. However, for the majority of Metallicas career, particularly prior to 1992, no one could question the aural results, and Hetfields role was significant.

James Hetfield is a guitarist of otherworldly ability, a front man of gargantuan stature and a much-underrated lyricist and songwriter. But he is more than just a great and influential musician. Hetfield is a more sensitive and thoughtful person than his public persona has suggested. Many are familiar with the hirsute, hard-drinking man of hunting and hot-rods, but thats not all he is. This book tries to understand, demystify and humanize a rock legend who, for most of his career, has remained impenetrable.