In the early days of Metallica, long before they became one of the biggest metal bands in the world, everything was still uncertain. The lineup kept changing, the band members were still figuring out their musical roles, and no one truly knew what Metallica would eventually become. But one moment stood out for Dave Mustaine — a moment that changed the way he saw James Hetfield forever.
Dave Mustaine, who was Metallica’s lead guitarist before forming Megadeth, recently talked about a powerful memory from the early 1980s. Back then, Metallica was still trying out different musicians. One of those musicians was a rhythm guitarist named Brad Parker, also known as Damian Phillips. Mustaine remembered watching Parker play with the band at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, a famous club where many rock bands got their start.
But Mustaine wasn’t impressed. Parker’s style and appearance didn’t fit what Metallica was trying to create. Mustaine even said he thought to himself, “This guy’s not gonna be here very long.” And he was right — by the next rehearsal, Parker was gone.
What happened next is what Mustaine still remembers so clearly. With Parker out of the picture, James Hetfield, who was mainly known as the band’s singer at the time, quietly picked up a guitar. Hetfield wasn’t trying to show off. He wasn’t putting on a performance. He was just playing, almost to himself.
But that simple moment completely shocked Mustaine.
He froze and listened. The playing wasn’t smooth or perfect, but it had something even better — raw power, aggression, and emotion. To Mustaine, it was like discovering a new side of someone he thought he already understood. He later described it in his own blunt style: it was “just James playing guitar like a motherfucker.”
This wasn’t the polished rhythm guitar work Hetfield would become famous for later. This was the early spark — the moment Dave realized that James had something special. Suddenly, Mustaine could see a whole new future for the band. He thought, “How did this guy go from just being the singer to a great guitar player?”
That moment wasn’t just impressive. It was important. Because as fans know today, James Hetfield grew into one of the most influential rhythm guitarists in metal history. His tight, aggressive down-picking and powerful riffs became a core part of Metallica’s sound — the sound that changed metal forever.
Even though Mustaine was eventually fired from Metallica in 1983, leading to years of tension and rivalry, time has changed things. In recent years, he has spoken more openly and respectfully about his former bandmates. Mustaine has even called Hetfield “an exceptional guitar player,” acknowledging the talent he saw in those early days.
Today, as Megadeth reaches the later chapter of its studio career, Mustaine seems more willing than ever to look back honestly at Metallica’s beginnings. And this memory — the day he first heard James really play guitar — still stands out.