JAMES HETFIELD IS “A REBORN STRAIGHT EDGE”

I’ve always wanted to ask Brian “Head” Welch if the Jesus tattoo on his hand has been a success as a masturbation deterrent, ’cause I feel like if I really, really wanted to jerk-off, no picture of a deity could ever really stop me. To that same end, I’ve never been sure if having an “X” tattooed on my hand would prevent me from having a drink or smoking weed or putting any number of other substances into my body. But I’ve never gone to rehab, so maybe I just don’t understand the power symbols can have when helping one fight his inner demons.

So. James Hetfield’s struggles with addiction have been about as well documented as any rock star’s struggles with addiction; in Some Kind of Monster, you can watch the guy morph from a grumpy, introverted, inarticulate alcoholic to a talkative, bespeckled and frosted, touchy-feely whimp right before your very eyes. (That’s not a criticism of his sobriety, by the way; his music lost its appeal for me long before he went to rehab, so I’m not someone that believes we’re just a few beers away from Master of Puppets Part II. And I actually appreciate that Hetfield seems to have become a more self-aware and articulate man since he stopped drinking.) But according to Double Cross Webzine, in latest issue of Metallica’s fan club magazine, So What!, Hetfield identifies himself as “a reborn straight edge,” and even got a new “X” tattoo on his hand to prove it.

I’m not really sure what the difference is between someone who’s straight edge and someone who’s just sober, other than straight edge people really want you to know that they don’t drink or do drugs under any circumstances. And I’m weary of the word “reborn” – but I obviously don’t personally know Hetfield so I can’t speak to whether or not he’s become a “shell of a human being.” So I guess if having that “X” on his hand really keeps him healthy, well, great.

Now if only Lars could have a metronome tattooed on his hand, we might be in good shape.

Head over to Double Cross to read excerpts from the So What! interview in which Hetfield explains a little more about his new lifestyle choice.

-AR

Thanks to Justin Reich for the tip.