James Hetfield is one of the best frontmen of all time, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deal with insecurity and anxiety before a tour.
Papa Het opened up about this in an episode of The Metallica Report podcast. He talks about doubting himself before beginning a tour, specifically when it comes to his age and how that can limit what he can and cannot do anymore on stage. Hetfield also talks about having nightmares of things going awry, like not having a set list or somehow the neck on his guitar has turned to rubber, and it only has two strings.
“That has to happen, and I don’t freak out over it,” explained Hetfield. ” … You have anxiety build up, and don’t let it get the best of you because you have that balance of anxiety and faith, and as soon as you get up there, it’s all gonna be good.”
Hetfield also touched on sharing his insecurities with the rest of his Metallica bandmates. He said that as soon as he expresses his concerns, they’re there to remind him that everything is going to be fine and that they have his back.
James Hetfield Has a History With Insecurity
In May 2022, during a show in Brazil, Hetfield took a moment to talk to the crowd about his insecurity about performing.
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Papa Het shared before Metallica played “Sad But True,” “I’ve gotta tell you I wasn’t feeling very good before I came out here. [I was] feeling a little bit insecure, like I’m an old guy, [I] can’t play anymore — all this bulls— that I tell myself in my head. So I talked to these guys, and they helped me — as simple as that. They gave me a hug and said, ‘Hey, if you’re struggling on stage, we’ve got your back.’ And I tell you, it means the world to me.”
And as if it couldn’t get any more heartwarming, the entire band then swarmed Hetfield for another big hug, because sometimes, even one of the most legendary frontmen feels insecure and needs a little help from his friends.
