James Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist and vocalist from the band Metallica. Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963, in Downey, Los Angeles County, California. Hetfield was 9 years old when he took his first piano lessons, before taking on his brother David's drums and finally picking up a guitar in his pre-teens. Inspired by bands such as Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Venom, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Hetfield formed his first band, Obsession, in his early teens.