I was born on August 3, 1963 in the city of Downey near Los Angeles, California.

I was brought up in a strict Christian Science house hold, my older brother Dave had guitars in their garage which he used to play about on. My mother tried to get me more interested in classical music, and even paid for 2 years worth of piano training...

Whilst not in Metallica I enjoy hunting and beer(not so much anymore)... Some of my influences on becoming a master of lyrics for Metallica were, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, and Motorhead.

My jobs before my singing career were, a janitor, and a sticker factory worker. I had a band before Metallica, and it was called "Obsession".

I am the quiet person in the band; usually in interviews i don't talk as much, I hate interviews. But, when it comes to concerts, I am the call of the Devil!!! My parents were Christian Scientists, the "big" jobs. I liked to lie low, a quiet kid into sports. My older step-brother played the drums in a local band. This made me turn to rock in general; Black Sabbath. In my junior years, me and his family all moved to Brea, California. This is where I started out with his guitar playing. I played in the "high school party band" called Obsession, playing mostly Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

Around this time, I got hooked up with Ron McGovney, who was soon to be metallica's first bass player. Then after, I got to meet Lars Ulrich through a newspaper called the "Recycler". This is when Metallica was truely first formed. I found myself playing the guitar instead of singing so that he could concentrate on guitar. They started to look for a front-man, but it never worked out. I continued to do both singing and rhythm guitar playing. With that, Metallica were on their way to popularity!

Favorites:
Drink: Coors Light, Pacifico, Bombay Gin Martinis, Caffney's Irish Ale

Food: Mexican, meat-n-potatoes, beer

Sports Teams: Oakland Raiders, San Jose Sharks, San Jose Clash

Previous Career: I have worked in a sticker factory, as a high school janitor, and as a mover.

Likes: Hunting, fishing, anonymity, snowboarding, street hockey, water skiing, cigars

Listens To: Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Skynard, Thin Lizzy

Heroes: Pops Hetfield, Clint Eastwood

First Concert: Aerosmith & AC/DC, 1978, Long Beach, California

Rugged, honest, stubborn

Influences: Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Waits, Nick Cave