Petersen Automotive Museum to Feature James Hetfield's Custom Car Collection

James Hetfield,  lead vocalist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica has one other passion that rivals his love for music: cars. And they're not just the ordinary ones. He likes to customize old vehicles and transform them into one-of-a-kind vehicles--Over the years, this passion has grown into a collection that he wants to display at the Petersen Automotive Museum. 

In many ways, these vehicles are a reflection of Hetfield himself. Named James Alan Hetfield, Metallica's lead singer has always been interested in history and unconventionality. Using old cars as a platform--all the while transforming them to unique, creative pieces--is a perfect reflection of what he is all about.

His "Reclaimed Rust" exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum will feature ten customized vehicles that include his 1948 Jaguar “Black Pearl,” 1934 Packard “Aquarius,” 1953 Buick Skylark “Skyscraper,” 1937 Lincoln Zephyr “VooDoo Priest,” 1936 Auburn “Slow Burn,” 1936 Ford “Iron Fist,” 1937 Ford Coupe “Crimson Ghost,” and 1932 Ford Roadster “Black Jack.”

The exhibit, which is sponsored by ESP Guitar Company, will also display a ESP hollow-body electric guitar and Mesa amplifier custom painted to match the Skylark Skyscraper.

Guests who are on a charitable mood might also want to take part in the exhibit's auction: two limited-edition guitars that will be auctioned off on January 30. 

James Hetfield was ranked at no 8 in Joel McIver's book "The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" and no. 24 by Hit Parader on their list of the "100 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time". He was placed as the 19th "Greatest Guitarist" of all time and ranked second (along with Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett) in The "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists" poll of the same magazine. Meanwhile, rolling Stone placed Hetfield as the 87th "greatest guitarist of all time".

Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, the Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards from 23 nominations, released ten studio albums, three live albums, four extended plays and 24 singles. Its last six studio albums (beginning with Metallica) have consecutively debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.The band ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, and as of 2918, has sold over 125 million albums worldwide.

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