James Hetfield's Quotes

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.

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 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.

It's all fun and games 'till someone loses an eye, then it's just fun you can't see.

I'd rather regret doing something than not doing something.

I like a women who's got some balls, some strength. As long as I can beat her at arm wrestling, that's fine.

I choose to live, not just exist.

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

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

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

I wanted to make noise, not study theory.

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

I'm married to Metallica.

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

I like playing music because it's a good living and I get satisfaction from it. But I can't feed my family with satisfaction.

Dying, dying, someone told me just recently, dying is easy. Living is hard. for everyone.

There is something powerful in Metallica, a will, a drive.

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

I was pretty quiet as a child.

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.

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

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.