In a recent tweet, former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney shared insights about James Hetfield’s first band lineup.
A user asked McGovney, along with a photo, “Is this photo Ron Veloz? What became of him? In any scene bands after Obsession?” McGovney responded, saying, “Richard Veloz was the drummer. Jim, James, and Ron Veloz traded off on lead vocals. David Marrs was a roadie. I just kinda hung out at band practices. I did let them use my guitar amp sometimes.”
Hetfield began piano lessons at nine, played drums for his half-brother David, and then picked up the guitar at 14 with Robert Okner. As a teenager, he played in bands such as Leather Charm and Obsession.
Hetfield’s first band was Obsession, where he jammed with the Veloz brothers and Jim Arnold. It was in Obsession that Hetfield first played alongside McGovney. However, Obsession didn’t last long, and Hetfield moved to Brea, California, after his sophomore year in Downey.
In Brea, Hetfield formed a new band called Phantom Lord, which featured Hugh Tanner on guitar, Jim Mulligan on drums, and Hetfield as the vocalist and guitarist. After graduating from Brea Olinda High School, Hetfield returned to Downey, and Phantom Lord ended for him.
Back in Downey with McGovney, Hetfield started Leather Charm. This time, Hetfield focused on singing, while McGovney, Mulligan, and Tanner played. One of the songs they covered was Iron Maiden’s ‘Remember Tomorrow,’ which Metallica would later cover. After Leather Charm split up, Hetfield responded to a newspaper ad from drummer Lars Ulrich.
Although the band wasn’t complete, Ulrich had an offer to record a demo for a Metal Blade Records compilation. Hetfield joined to play guitar and sing. The song he wrote, ‘Hit the Lights,’ would become a crucial part of thrash metal history. It debuted on ‘Metal Massacre’ on June 14, 1982, just a year after Metallica was formed. This marked the beginning of Hetfield and Metallica’s rise to fame in the metal world.
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