James Hetfield

James Alan Hetfield (born 3 August 1963, Downey, California) is the main songwriter (with drummer Lars Ulrich and sometimes guitarist Kirk Hammett), co-founder, vocalist and rhythm guitar of the American thrash/heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, Los Angeles County, California. His family were of English, Irish, and German descent. The father, Virgil Hetfield (a truck driver) and mother, Cynthia (a light opera singer) were devout and strict adherents to Christian Science, and accordingly, much of his young life revolved around religion. In accordance with their beliefs, Hetfield's parents strongly disapproved of medicine or any medical help and remained vigilant in their faith even as his mother began to die of cancer. Her death and his subsequently turbulent relationship with religion are both recurring subjects that have been the focal point of some of Metallica's lyrics (the songs "Mama Said", "Dyers Eve" and "The God That Failed," are about... full article at wikipedia