When it comes to defining Metallica, most people use James Hetfield as their guide. 
There's never any bullshit with James and there's never any shirking of duties. Example? 
When he threw his back out on the Summer Sanitarium 2000 tour, James ploughed hisway through three weeks of intense physical therapy in four days, according to his 
physical 
therapist. And when the going got really tough, and James needed help in 2001, he sought 
it out, took it on and came back stronger than ever. It is precisely this sort of fierce, 
unbending dedication, devotion and spirit which has made James such an inspirational 
focal point through the years for millions of fans. 
Ironically, the voice of Metallica (indeed, a defining voice of his rock'n'roll generation) 
very nearly wasn't a voice at all, simply because in the early days, James Hetfield didn't 
fancy being a lead vocalist. Metallica tried a few different vocal/guitar configurations. 
Some of the options considered included adding another
guitar player, having then-lead guitar player Dave Mustaine play the sole guitar and asking 
John Bush from Armored Saint to sing for the band. Of course common sense prevailed, 
James decided to fight harder to establish himself as a frontman and the results are, ahem, 
history
To trace the roots of Hetfield's unflinching dedication and determination, you have to go 
back to a childhood that was often tough but laid a foundation, which underscores James 
today. Born to a truck driver and light opera singer on August 3rd, 1963, in Los Angeles, 
his family's Christian Science religious beliefs played a large part in the young Hetfield's 
life, and subsequently form a central point for many of Metallica's lyrics. He was 9 years 
old when he first took piano lessons before taking on brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens.