During a recent appearance on The Project, an Australian talk show, James Hetfield shared his opinion on the controversial topic of rock music’s alleged demise. Hetfield’s viewpoint is particularly interesting since he has had a significant impact on the genre as a member of Metallica. Despite Metallica’s recent release of “72 Seasons,” some fans and industry insiders are still of the opinion that rock is dead. Hetfield addressed this topic during his appearance on The Project, and he provided a compelling explanation for why heavy metal, in particular, has managed to stay relevant.
According to Hetfield, heavy metal is a genre of “misfit music” that maintains a sense of rebellion and an underground feeling. He believes that it requires a fighting spirit, and despite the ongoing claims that “rock is dead,” hard-rock bands continue to prove the naysayers wrong with each passing decade.
“Gosh, [heavy metal is] a misfit music. It’s an underground feeling, still. It’s like a rebel music. It’s a thing you need to fight for. Every decade, [they say] ‘rock is dead.’ That is fuel for a hard-rock band. Absolutely.”
Several notable figures in the rock music industry, including Alice Cooper, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, and Dave Grohl, have expressed their belief that rock is not dead.
Grohl even went so far as to suggest that rock music now takes on many different forms, including the music of Billie Eilish. Hetfield effectively highlighted the idea that the debate over whether rock music is dead should inspire new bands to persevere. One band that has taken this mindset to heart is Greta Van Fleet, which is injecting new life into the rock genre.