Back in 1998, Metallica gave an interview to a magazine and was asked about their all-time favorite albums. At that point, James Hetfield, then 35, and Metallica had been together for over 17 years.
The band was working on the compilation “Garage Inc.” which would be released in November of that year. By then, they had already released iconic albums like “Master of Puppets” and their massive self-titled album, “Metallica (The Black Album).”
The album featured cover songs, B-sides, and rarities, making it the perfect moment to ask the band about their favorite albums of all time.
This article explores the personal picks of Metallica’s lead vocalist and guitarist, James Hetfield. What were his favorite albums 25 years ago? Let’s dive into each one below.
1 – “Live Seeds” by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1993)
The list starts with Nick Cave and his comrades-in-arms, the Bad Seeds. The Australian band’s first official live album, Live Seeds, was released in 1993 and compiles performances recorded between 1992 and 1993 for their European and Australian tours.
These concerts supported their then-recent album of originals, Henry’s Dream. James Hetfield’s choice makes much more sense after I saw one of the best concerts of my life at the 2018 Primavera Sound in Porto—yes, it was Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds!
Metallica would later release a cover of Nick Cave’s “Loverman,” which is included on the album Garage Inc., which coincides with this interview and Hetfield’s list of favorite albums.
2 – “Opus Dei” by Laibach (1987)
James Hetfield also chose Opus Dei, released by a Slovenian industrial rock band called Laibach, for his top 10 favorite albums. It may seem a strange choice to most, but the band, which was formed in the city of Trbovlje in 1980, has always been linked to controversies over the use of branding linked to totalitarianism, nationalism, and militarism.
Banned from Socialist Yugoslavia, the band retained cult status in their country, and they are often cited as an influence on the popular German heavy metal band Rammstein. The album itself, released in 1987, had a certain impact on James Hetfield and others, as it was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
3 – “Remasters” by Led Zeppelin (1990)
Led Zeppelin is one of James Hetfield’s favorite bands, so it’s no surprise that an album by the English band is on his list of all-time favorites. Led Zeppelin Remasters, released in 1990, is a compilation album with music from the band’s eight studio albums.
In 2004, in an interview with Rolling Stone, he declared “Stairway to Heaven” the best song ever. We understand you, James!
In the interview, he said, “When I first got a guitar, I figured out the first couple of fingerings to this. I ran around the house saying, ‘Check it out! I can play this!’ My family was like, ‘Where’s the rest of the song?’“.
Like so many guitarists before and after James, Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” is that reference point for anyone who picks up the guitar for the first time, which is why it also has a special meaning for the Metallica vocalist.
4 – “American Psycho” by Misfits (1997)
James’ fourth choice is a contemporary album, released shortly before the interview, which was among the top albums chosen by the members of Metallica. American Psycho was released by the punk rock band Misfits. Founding vocalist Glenn Danzig wasn’t at the helm, as he had left the band 10 years earlier, in 1987, to embark on a promising solo career. Instead, it features Michale Graves on vocals.
To show his love for the Misfits, it was a regular sight to see James Hetfield wearing one of the band’s T-shirts when he performed live with Metallica. The Californians even played a Misfits cover, “Last Caress,” hundreds of times, and interestingly, the band also included the song in their compilation album “Garage, Inc.”
5 – “A Fistful of Dollars” by Ennio Morricone (1964)
A Fistful of Dollars by Ennio Morricone! This was undoubtedly an eye-opener for those short-sighted people who think that thrash metal or heavy metal bands only like “loud” and “heavy” music.
A Fistful of Dollars was primarily a 1964 spaghetti Western film starring Clint Eastwood. The movie director, Sergio Leone, requested that Ennio Morricone compose the soundtrack.
In 2020, when Ennio Morricone died at the age of 91, James Hetfield paid tribute to the Italian composer as a significant influence on the band. Since 1983, Metallica has played Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold” as their live show introduction.
On his Facebook page, James Hetfield posted:
“The day we first played “The Ecstasy of Gold” as our new intro in 1983 it was magic! It has become a part of our blood flow, deep breathing, fist bumping, prayers and band huddle pre-show ritual ever since.
“I have sang that melody thousands of times to warm up my throat before hitting the stage. Thank you Ennio for pumping us up, being a big part of our inspiration, and a bonding between band, crew, and fan. I will forever think of you as part of the Metallica family.
“R. I. P. Maestro Morricone 🙏🏻
“With respect,
“James ‘papa h’”
6 – “Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em” by The Reverend Horton Heat (1990)
It’s impossible not to notice James Hetfield’s admiration for Reverend Horton Heat. Have you not yet realized how James C. Heathan and James Hetfield look like twin brothers?
The first album by the Dallas, Texas-based rockabilly/psychobilly band Reverend Horton Heat was released in 1990 on the Sub Pop label (which also signed Seattle bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney, critical players in the grunge movement).
The album title, Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em, takes its name from a common expression used by US troops during World War II, which means to take a breather. ‘Smoke ’em if you got ’em,’ officers would say, letting soldiers take a cigarette break.
7 – “Scream, Dracula, Scream!” by Rocket From the Crypt (1995)
In a 2013 interview with Metallica Orion Magazine, James Hetfield once again expressed his admiration for Rocket From the Crypt, particularly their album Scream, Dracula, Scream!
When asked, “Who stands out from the festival line-up for you?” he replied: “I’ve always been a Rocket From the Crypt fan, and the fact that they’re back together is very exciting for me, personally. Scream, Dracula, Scream! is still one of the most solid rock records in my collection. The Deftones up on stage battling on after losing a key member—I like that. And I like the Dropkick Murphys a lot.”
The American punk rock band released the album in 1995. They achieved some success in the UK with the song “On a Rope,” which reached #12 on the sales charts. Like “Opus Dei” from Laibach, this album was also included in the book “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.”
8 – “Thin Lizzy” by Thin Lizzy (1971)
Come on, James. Everyone knows that Jailbreak is the one! But okay, Thin Lizzy was…different. And if there’s one thing this list has taught us, it’s that James Hetfield’s choices are anything but obvious.
Thin Lizzy’s self-titled debut album was far from the hard rock sound that would later, in the second half of the 70s, establish the band as one of the most untouchable on the global stage. This early sound might even surprise some fans unfamiliar with this phase of the Irish band, as it’s surprisingly mellow.
Once again, James Hetfield chooses an album far from Metallica’s sound, drawing influences from various musical styles.
9 – “Bone Machine” by Tom Waits (1992)
Finally, in a list of nine albums, we have Bone Machine by the legendary Tom Waits. This album earned Tom Waits a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album and is clearly one of the most cohesive records in the American songwriter’s long discography, which spans six decades (despite not releasing an album of original material in almost 15 years).
In 2016, James Hetfield was asked about his favorite songwriters and where he draws his musical influences from, and his response is consistent with some of the choices on this list:
“I just wish that I could be as good as Tom Waits, Phil Lynott, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, a lot of great lyricists,” he added “It is really cool to read up on them and hear how they come up with their stuff.”