# James Hetfield’s six favourite guitarists

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/james-hetfields-six-favourite-guitarists/
- Published: 2026-10-23T16:57:16+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:24:08+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/james-hetfield-six-favourite-guitarists/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Hetfield named six guitar influences in 2009.
- He values rhythm, down-picking and strong riffs.
- His choices span metal, hard rock and punk.

## Summary

James Hetfield named six of his favourite guitarists in a 2009 interview, offering a glimpse into the influences behind Metallica’s sound. He said he gravitated towards rhythm guitar and riffs, which he sees as the foundation of a strong song.

His choices were Tony Iommi, Rudolf Schenker, Malcolm Young, Joe Perry, Johnny Ramone and a Misfits guitarist, whom the article suggests may have been Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein. Hetfield praised steady, rhythm-focused playing and down-picking; the article connects those influences to the forceful riffs that helped shape his style.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.