Like his bandmates in Metallica, James Hetfield was influenced by many British bands, especially Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, who took Rock and Roll to heavier levels. During his career, he had the chance to meet members of those bands and even play with some of them. Rock and Roll Garage selected the songs by those groups that James has mentioned as his favorites.
James Hetfield’s favorite Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath songs
Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven”
James Hetfield is a Led Zeppelin fan and simply said that “Stairway to Heaven” is the best song ever written. “There is a (best) song for every mood, every day, every action. You know, when I’m driving ‘Ace of Spades’ (Motörhead) is the best song. But the best song written… I mean, as far as songwriting goes there’s so many avenues to go down.”
“As stupid and simple as it sounds, I think ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Led Zeppelin) is just one of those songs that so many bands have tried to emulate. You start off light and end up heavy. (Lynyrd Skynyrd) ‘Free Bird is that (way), ‘One’ (Metallica). There’s so many songs that have emulated that,” James Hetfield said in an interview for the podcast Metallica Report in 2025 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage). This wasn’t the only time that he picked that track as one of his favorites. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2004, he mentioned the song among the ones he likes the most. He recalled that the guitar intro was one of the first things he learned to play on guitar.
James Hetfield said:
“When I first got a guitar, I figured out the first couple of fingerings to this. I ran around the house saying, ‘Check it out! I can play this!’ My family was like, ‘Where’s the rest of the song?’” A few years later, when he learned how to play the guitar properly and was part of his school band Obsession, they used to cover a lot of Led Zeppelin songs.
He had the chance to share the stage with Jimmy Page when Metallica and Jeff Beck were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. The Led Zeppelin guitarist and producer was there to induct his friend Beck and they all got together at the end to perform “Train Kept A-Rollin'”.
Black Sabbath – “Black Sabbath” and “Into The Void”
Black Sabbath has always been the band that influenced James Hetfield the most and he said many times that Tony Iommi is his favorite guitarist. “Into The Void”, from their 1971 album “Master of Reality” is one of the tracks he likes the most. “As far as being a riff and rhythm guy, my favorite guitarist is Tony Iommi, no doubt about that. He seemed like one of those quiet geniuses. At one time he was the frontman of the band and Ozzy was to one side.”
“The riff was more important than the vocals. It was all in minor, it has that feel. He can go from the heaviest doom riff into a happy mode and it would still sound heavy. We can’t do happy, but Tony can pull it off. My favorite track is ‘Into The Void’,” James Hetfield said in an interview with Classic Rock. He also likes the first song he ever heard by them, the self-titled track of their debut album released in 1970. He mentioned the track when he and Lars Ulrich had the chance to induct the metal band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
“You see, this timid nine-year-old constantly raided his roommate-slash-older brother’s record collection. And going against his older brother’s wishes, played those off-limit records on the forbidden record player. Out of all the records he could have worn out, there was no other choice. The very moment he saw their earliest album cover, he knew they were going to offer him a different kind of ride. He was drawn to them like a magnet to metal.”
James Hetfield continued:
“That’s pretty lame, yes. OK, I’ll try again. More like a shy boy to his own loud voice. Those monstrous riffs lived inside him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words. Sending chills of inspiration through him, from those gloomy lyrics and outlaw chords and all. They helped crack the shell he was stuck in. Also, scaring his mom and sister was an extra bonus. Now, as the former nine-year-old speaks to you here, as an adult musician.”
“So I know those two words really don’t go together. I realize that without their defining sound, as my friend Lars has said, there would be no Metallica, especially with one James Hetfield. Never have I known a more timeless and influential band. (Sabbath) have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians.”
“They are always listed as an influence by heavy bands to this day. They are loved and highly respected as the fathers of heavy music. It truly is a dream come true and an extreme honor for me and the nine-year-old still inside of me to induct into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame such a significant group of musicians. In the words of our fearless leader Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Let’s go fucking crazy!’” James Hetfield said. After the induction, Metallica performed Sabbath’s “Hole in the Sky” and “Iron Man”.