Metallica frontman James Hetfield shared his insecurities over his guitar playing on the stage during a recent show in Brazil and received a hug from his bandmates.
Regardless of their success or talent, almost all artists are inclined to feel insecure at times. Even the most experienced performers deal with the feeling of insecurity before a show at one point or another. It is no secret that James Hetfield has struggled with some mental health issues and insecurities over the years. He also publicly acknowledged his battles with alcohol multiple times.
He has gone through some hard times while dealing with his alcohol addiction. He entered rehabilitation for his alcohol abuse during the recording of the band’s 2003 album, ‘St. Anger,’ and seemed to be doing okay after that. However, his problems related to alcohol addiction re-emerged in 2019, and he headed back to rehab to recover from it. Due to all of the issues he faced because of his destructive habits, private life, and getting older, Papa Hets went through a phase where he lacked confidence and opened up about it to his fans.
During the band’s show on May 12 at Estádio do Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, James Hetfield stunned crowds by opening up about his emotional vulnerability. The singer stated that he felt insecure before the show due to his age and guitar playing. Then, he referred to his bandmates and talked about the support he received from them. They hugged him and encouraged him by saying they would always stand behind him. Following his speech, the crowd applauded, and his bandmates left their places on the stage and gave him a group hug.
James Hetfield speaking on feeling insecure before the show:
“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 bullsh*t 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 seeing you out there, I am not alone. I am not alone, and neither are you.”
You can watch his speech to the crowd during the show below.
