Metallica frontman James Hetfield recently pointed out that while he likes to meet Metallica fans, he’s very much against taking photos with fans and giving autographs.
The musician tells Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx on hiw Sixx Sense show: “I really used to get freaked out that I would piss somebody off. I used to get so worried that if I say ‘No. My kids are here, I’m enjoying a family moment,’ that they’ll turn around and say, ‘You’re a dick! What a rock star!’ I was so worried about that.
“I don’t do photos, I don’t sign, I will shake your hand and I’ll talk with you for five minutes. I’d rather do that and leave that kind of impression than someone just stealing a little piece of your privacy.
“I don’t find that productive for me and it puts me in a crap mood. And then I start to get resentful and I don’t even wanna talk to people. So I’d rather talk to them as a person instead of some idol of sorts.”
In related news, one Metallica fan from Arizona detailed his experience of meeting James these days, pointing out through Reddit that Hetfield is indeed not a photo guy.
The fan said: “Met James today. Walked into where I was having lunch in Scottsdale. No idea what he’s doing there. Shook his hand. 10/10 would meet again. I guess I should be more amped, but it honestly seemed like he didn’t want to be bothered. It was before he sat down – he was just standing waiting for his order and it was sort of an awkward encounter.
“PROTIP: Don’t ask him to take a picture – he says he doesn’t do that. Fine by me. Doesn’t matter though – I met James Hetfield.”
The fan also added: “He really didn’t want to be bothered – he tolerated me which was nice – but I can totally see his side of it. The whole thing didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.”
Back in 2011, James attacked a gang of paparazzi in Uruguay by throwing stones at them after they started frantically taking photos of him and his son while they were having some ice cream on vacation. You can check out the details report on the incident from back in the day at this link.
