James Hetfield’s opinion on Scorpions

After Black Sabbath laid the foundations of Heavy Metal in 1970, the genre quickly evolved in the following years, becoming faster and heavier as bands like Metallica, fronted by James Hetfield, helped shape Thrash Metal.

But between Sabbath and Metallica, many other bands played an important role in inspiring this evolution, including the German group Scorpions. Over the years, Hetfield gave his opinion on many Metal bands, including the group formed by Rudolf Schenker and fronted by Klaus Meine.

What is James Hetfield’s opinion on Scorpions

James Hetfield is a huge fan of Scorpions and was deeply inspired by them when he was growing up, especially the guitarists Michael and Rudolf Schenker, who are some of his idols. “You know, Michael Schenker, Scorpions for me, was a pretty major influence in the early days of Metal for me. Because in America we had Ted Nugent, we had Aerosmith, that was something of the harder edge stuff.”

“I know there were other bands that were as hard. But you know, when I first discovered some of these stuff from Europe (like) Judas Priest and Scorpions, they were probably the biggest of the bands in Europe that made it to the States. They were all playing Flying V’s, you know. I remember looking at the ‘Tokyo Tapes’ (Scorpions’ 1978 live album) and seeing the Flying V, ‘Rudy’ Schenker, Michael Schenker,” James Hetfield said in the documentary “Flying V”  released in 2020 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

On his first guitar, James painted stripes just like the ones Eddie Van Halen had on his guitar. His second one was a white Flying V and he was extremely happy because it was just like the one used by Michael.

“My first guitar was a swap-meet thing that I paid five bucks for and painted about 12 different times. I put Eddie Van Halen stripes on and all that stuff, like every kid did. And the second guitar I had was, like, a ’69 SG that some kid sold (to) me in high school for $200. I traded it for a PA because I wanted to be the singer, because everyone was looking for a singer back then. And then the next guitar I bought was this V.”

James Hetfield continued:

“Somebody sold it to me as a Gibson V, and as a dumb kid I had no idea. Eventually it dawned on me: Oh, it has a bolt-on neck. It can’t be. Hmmm, why does it say ‘Made in Japan’ on it? [laughs] But I didn’t care. I didn’t have a care in the world. It’s a white V! It’s Michael Schenker, it’s Scorpions. That was metal: black pants, white V, go! I couldn’t care less that it was not a real Gibson,” James Hetfield told Guitar World in 2008.

James Hetfield said Rudolf Schenker was one of his biggest influences

Although Michael Schenker was a big influence, Hetfield talked often over the years about the older brother, Rudolf, since like the Metallica frontman, he also is a rhythm guitar player. “There have obviously been influences that have shaped it somewhat. Listening to Scorpions… (Rudolf Schenker). I like that he’s just the rhythm guy. He’s not trying to be everything. He’s the best at what he did. At the time he was really percussive in a way,” he told Total Guitar back in 2016.

A few years ago, in 2018, on Rudolf Schenker’s 70th birthday Scorpions shared a special message recorded by James Hetfield. The guitarist and singer said: “I appreciate you and all that you contributed to the music world and Metal in general. (I’m) glad that you are still out there kicking ass. Happy 70th birthday to you. Us rhythm players got to stick together, so stay safe out there and I hope you don’t have a ‘blackout’! (Hetfield said he was imitating Schenker on the cover of the ‘Blackout’ album, but using two spoons instead of forks).”

Curiously, back in the 80s, when Metallica finally had the chance to play on the same bill as Scorpions. But that night James made fun of the band because they were taking limousines to go from their dressing rooms to the stage, even though the distance between them was quite short. As the late journalist Malcolm Dome recalled in Classic Rock, Hetfield shouted on their direction: “Hey, man! Lost the use of your legs? Crazy fuckers!”

The funny James Hetfield comment about Scorpions touring everywhere

Metallica have played almost everywhere in the world, including places that Heavy Metal bands rarely visit, such as China and even Antarctica, which is actually a place where very few people have ever been. But for James Hetfield, Scorpions is a band that has probably played in more different places than Metallica ever did. In a 2021 interview with Kerrang!, he even made a joke about it.

“We’ve never played Belarus, Bolivia, Uruguay, Honduras, El Salvador, Vietnam, and Lebanon. The joke is kind of, you send the Scorpions in first. Then you see how they do. That’s said with nothing but love. But the Scorpions have played in a few of these places,” James Hetfield said.

Interestingly, Rudolf Schenker once said that playing in countries where not many big Rock and Roll bands went was what helped Scorpions survive the Grunge era, a time when older Hard Rock bands were pushed aside by the public and the media. While many groups from their era were struggling, Scorpions were having hits in parts of the world that few other bands visited.

But besides praising Scorpions multiple times, the Metallica frontman also criticized them once for their farewell tour, which was not really a farewell since they decided to continue touring afterwards.

Rudolf Schenker said Metallica couldn’t play properly at the beginning of their careers

Funny enough, Rudolf Schenker once praised Metallica but said that at the beginning of their career the members of the band could not play their instruments.“Look at bands like Metallica. When they began, they were trash and they couldn’t play their instruments. But over the years they became a classic rock band because they learned how to play. They play extremely well now. So we’re just like Metallica – classic rock! We fit in right with that. It feels good to be a part of what’s happening again,” he told Music Radar in 2010.

Formed by Rudolf Schenker in Hannover, West Germany back in 1965, Scorpions became over the years one of the best-selling bands of all time. They have sold an estimated amount of more than 100 million records worldwide. Unlike Metallica they were still not inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His younger brother Michael Schenker was part of the band from 1969 to 1973 and 1978 to 1979. He is also known for his work in UFO, another band Hetfield is a big fan of.