Legendary Metallica frontman James Hetfield has revealed that he has been immersing himself in writing new music and playing guitar daily since the band’s last tour ended in December 2023. Hetfield, who co-founded Metallica with the drummer Lars Ulrich in 1981, gave insight into his creative process and recent activities during an interview on The Metallica Report podcast.
“The time off was fantastic, but at the same time I missed playing with the guys. And I let them know that I missed playing with them…” Hetfield said. He also discussed some of the group’s recent projects, including its collaboration with Elton John. “The thing for Elton John [la reprise de Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding à la télévision en avril] was truly fantastic. I enjoyed it. Elton, what a beautiful soul!”
Hetfield, now 60, has made the most of his free time, not only by pursuing his passion for skiing in Colorado, but also by devoting himself to his music. “I went skiing, I went up to the mountains – there was tons of snow in Colorado, where we are, so a good snow season – and I wrote a lot of music”did he declare. “I play guitar almost every day. It must. It’s like breathing.”
When asked if his “idea machine” never stops, Hetfield responds: “I am so grateful that it never stops. Whether to escape everyday life or otherwise, I love my little music room in the basement. I have a computer, a few guitars and a small setup. It’s the place where I feed my soul, where I go to play and write. I don’t practice that much, I just write.”
Despite this downtime, Metallica remains active in promoting its album 72 Seasons (2023) and is preparing for a European tour, which will begin this week with two dates in Munich, Germany. The band will also tour North and Central America in August and September.
