James Hetfield Quotes

When you're an actor and you walk into a theatre where your movie is playing, you're kinda proud. "Look at my skill!"

I'm on this eternal quest to get the best guitar sound in the world, but my vision of what is 'the best' changes every time I go into the studio. Sometimes my goal is to make my guitar jump out, and sometimes I want it to lay back.

Most of my guitars have been instruments that look cool. I'm not picky. I never think, 'Oh, this neck isn't made of ebony,' or, 'These strings don't feel correct.' It doesn't matter too much.

Don't look back, because that's the sign of failure.

We do this basically for ourselves. People appreciate it, which is cool, but I think they appreciate that we're doing it for ourselves. We're doing it our way, and how people like it is not up to us. We like it.

The fans like the idea we do what we want. It's not an act. Screw the record company and the beaten path. Without MTV or radio, we still have a huge underground following.

I was pretty quiet as a child. I kind of hung out with my family and listened to music and sh*t. I wasn't too outgoing at all.

One time we saw some hookers but when we got closer we realized it was Motley Crue.

All that is, was, and will be. Universe much too big to see. Time and space never ending, disturbing thoughts, questions pending. Limitations of human understanding. Too quick to criticize, obligation to survive, we hunger to be alive. All that is, ever, ever was, will be ever twisting, turning, Through The Never. In the dark, see past our eyes. Pursuit of truth, no matter where it lies. Gazing up to the breeze of the heavens, on a quest, meaning, reason. Come to be, how it begun. All alone in the family of the sun, curiosity teasing everyone. On our home, third stone from the sun.

I'm not generally a big solo guy, because I'm not into showing off that way.

I've discovered that sheer quantity doesn't necessarily make for a heavier sound; if anything, overdubs make guitars sound mushier.

A lot of times, I'll have a goal, I'll start writing, and I'll end up in some far off place, which is good. It's nice to have a focus, but letting the lyrics write themselves where they need to go is important.

Just like the poles of a magnet, some people are drawn to death and others are repulsed by it, but we all have to deal with it.

Sleep my friend, and you will see that dream is my reality.

It's a good feeling, that you can put your heart out there, no matter how black it is, and people can understand it.

If everyone was the same, it would be boring as sh*t

Metallica is the world to me - it always has been, and that's not going to change. I'm married to Metallica.

My live sound does not work in the studio, which is a completely different animal. Every little thing is detrimental to the sound. And if someone moves a mic, you've lost it. It's pretty much a case of 'lock the door and set up a police line.'

We like to set off bombs.

Everybody is born good and everybody has got the same size soul. We're here to connect with that.

Metallica is a wonderful key to have on my key ring. I can go anywhere - it's great.

Every band that I've known that has done side projects or things like that - I don't respect them anymore.

There was so much good and different music back then and you'd just keep moving through it and discovering more new stuff. I went through my Black Sabbath phase before I even started playing guitar.

Aqualung is one that my brother turned me onto. It wasn't that hard-rocking, but Martin Barre had a really good sound. He knew what he was doing.

Music was the voice I didn't have.

You want to hear vocals? Go sing it.

We'd record a song that people liked and wanted to hear on the radio, and the radio wouldn't play it because it was too long. Or they wanted to edit it, which we wouldn't allow.

As far as artists and musicians, they don't retire. They might tour less.

Send me money, send me green, and Heaven you will meet. Make your contribution and you'll get a better seat.

Deceit, Deceive, Decide just what you believe ... I see faith in your eyes, Never you hear the discouraging lies. I hear faith in your cries ... Broken is the promise, Betrayal ... The healing hand held back by the deepened nail ... Follow the god that failed.

Rehab is like college for your head.

Every breath I take becomes deeper, and I become more confident of myself without my crutches. The lies I've filled my body and soul with aren't needed anymore. They're not welcome. I choose to live, not just exist.

If I hadn't had music in my life, it's quite possible I'd be dead and I'd much rather be alive.

Life is for my own to live my own way.

A lot of modern amps and preamps sound great when you're jamming by yourself, but don't hold up in a band situation. The sound isn't dense enough, and the lows and highs tend to get soaked up by the bass and cymbals.

It's good to listen to lots of different stuff, just whatever you like. The first two records I ever bought were Alice Cooper, Killer and Jethro Tull, Aqualung. That's two weird records to begin with, but I think they hold up well.

I don't remember doing anything else; I don't remember not living in the studio. I'm itching for people to hear this album because I'm sick of hearing it myself.

I'd like to have a beer-holder on my guitar like they have on boats.

Nothing can duplicate the sheer power and feeling you get from standing in front of your amp and bashing on your guitar.

Music is the soundtrack to my life.

I'm always feeling like I don't belong, no matter where I am. So I'm just searching for a family nonstop, and sometimes I find it in the mosh pit, sometimes I find it when I'm doing some French TV show with the president's wife.

Trios aren't really geared for slide unless you're gonna play chords, or play that simple George Thorogood style. It gets pretty thin when you play single note lines.

The band? No way! There ain't no band. The band is not 'the band' right now. It's just three guys.

I'd much rather talk about guitar playing. I hate it when people ask me about my lyrics. I always feel like telling them to just go and read them.

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Then it's fun and games you can't see anymore.

My vocals are bad, I can't sing, hey man, I wouldn't ask you to do a drum roll if your arm was falling off.

My whole life was duality: Here's my life at home, here's my life on the road.

I was pretty quiet as a child.

Authority pisses me off. I think everyone should be able to drink and get loud whenever they want.