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Product Description
THE FIRST AND ONLY BIOGRAPHY OF HETFIELD, FRONTMAN OF THE BIGGEST ROCK BAND OF THE MODERN ERA. Metallica's seat at the top table of rock is already assured. A huge part of their stunning transition from obscure thrash metal pioneers into globe-crushing rock megastars is singer, guitarist and co-songwriter James Hetfield, whose instantly recognisable and overwhelming presence has guided their every dramatic step. Brought up in an overtly religious household, by his early teens he was a keen fan of rock acts such as Black Sabbath and Motörhead. Working through the visceral thrash metal underground scene with Metallica, Hetfield exploded onto the global scene with that band's seminal eponymous fifth album and his place in the rock pantheon was cemented. However, behind the scenes was a complex band fronted by a genius who had his own personal battle to fight throwing the future of Metallica into considerable doubt. His subsequent blistering re-emergence as a re-invented rock legend is a personal and professional triumph; Hetfield's often misunderstood intellectual and warm personality allied to his stunning ability certainly deserves honest recognition The Wolf At Metallica's Door is the first book to chronicle this remarkable man's life. Author Mark Eglinton has compiled an exhaustive array of exclusive and first-hand interviews from key players in Hetfield's story, and in so doing has constructed the definitive biography on Metallica s frontman.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wish I had read the negative reviews before buying this book because they are spot on. The basic structure of the book is like this:
James Hetfield is born. Metallica release an album, they tour a lot. Metallica release another album, they tour a lot. Metallica release another album, they tour a lot...
That's really all there is to it. I expected an account of James Hetfield's life, not a vague history of Metallica. Each track on every album is commented on, yet only 2 or 3 have any significance to Hetfield's life story, the rest is just there to fill pages.
Also, I expected an impartial viewpoint throughout the book, but it's clear that the author is a thrash metal fan who was unwilling to accept the style of their later music, and so just slags the band off left, right and centre when telling the story of their later years. If I wanted to hear opinions on their albums, I would have bought a music review magazine, not a biography.
The only original parts of the book that aren't lifted from past interviews are where the author has spoken to the people close to Hetfield. However, he must have asked the same vague question to every person - "What do you think about James Hetfield?" Every response is also the same - he's a very quiet person who finds it difficult to trust people, and not like the beast he portrays on stage. I got bored of reading this view point after the 5th time.
Overall, I really gave this book a chance to get good, but found reading the second half of the book a chore. Every chapter is just a repeat of the previous one and I don't feel like the book progresses through Hetfield's life at all. It just vaguely follows Metallica, and every now and then throws in a comment from someone about James.
Reading the Wikipedia article about him is more informative, enjoyable to read, and free.
James Hetfield is born. Metallica release an album, they tour a lot. Metallica release another album, they tour a lot. Metallica release another album, they tour a lot...
That's really all there is to it. I expected an account of James Hetfield's life, not a vague history of Metallica. Each track on every album is commented on, yet only 2 or 3 have any significance to Hetfield's life story, the rest is just there to fill pages.
Also, I expected an impartial viewpoint throughout the book, but it's clear that the author is a thrash metal fan who was unwilling to accept the style of their later music, and so just slags the band off left, right and centre when telling the story of their later years. If I wanted to hear opinions on their albums, I would have bought a music review magazine, not a biography.
The only original parts of the book that aren't lifted from past interviews are where the author has spoken to the people close to Hetfield. However, he must have asked the same vague question to every person - "What do you think about James Hetfield?" Every response is also the same - he's a very quiet person who finds it difficult to trust people, and not like the beast he portrays on stage. I got bored of reading this view point after the 5th time.
Overall, I really gave this book a chance to get good, but found reading the second half of the book a chore. Every chapter is just a repeat of the previous one and I don't feel like the book progresses through Hetfield's life at all. It just vaguely follows Metallica, and every now and then throws in a comment from someone about James.
Reading the Wikipedia article about him is more informative, enjoyable to read, and free.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Don't get me wrong im a huge fan of metallica and james is one of the most talanted people around in the music business, but this biography just do not give you an insight into james life or that of metallica.
If you read joel mciver's (justice for all) there is hardly any point in buying this, even though joel is very narrow minded when it comes to metallicas music he did have a lot of good facts in his book.
The thing that dissapointed me the most was the repitition of the frase " james was really shy when he was young but really grounded" this frase or something similar is repeated all over the book and becomes very annoying. Mark Eglington does have a true love for his subject and that shows, but he just don't have enough material to write a book about James Hetfield.
Im sorry for having to give this rather bad review of the book but it just don't hold water, credit to the author should be given for the fact that a portion of the profit will go to cancer research.
If you read joel mciver's (justice for all) there is hardly any point in buying this, even though joel is very narrow minded when it comes to metallicas music he did have a lot of good facts in his book.
The thing that dissapointed me the most was the repitition of the frase " james was really shy when he was young but really grounded" this frase or something similar is repeated all over the book and becomes very annoying. Mark Eglington does have a true love for his subject and that shows, but he just don't have enough material to write a book about James Hetfield.
Im sorry for having to give this rather bad review of the book but it just don't hold water, credit to the author should be given for the fact that a portion of the profit will go to cancer research.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Unfortunately this book quickly turns from an attempted hetfield biography into a poor metallica biography, constantly quoting from another actual metallica biography book. The authors opinion of certain metallica albums/songs also becomes very tiresome after a while too. After reading the glaring error of metallica covering motorheads (!?!) stone cold crazy halfway through the book I lost any faith about the author and trudged through the rest reluctantly. Not a good purchase.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting to a Non-Interested Reader
Although I had NO interest in Metallica whatsoever other than a few of their songs, a friend convinced me to buy this book whilst I was in Edinburgh for the long flight home. Read more
Published 22 days ago by WrittenWordLover
Disappointing
I wish I had taken note of the negative reviews and not bought this book. It's not very well structured and it isn't about James Hetfield but more about the history of how... Read more
Published 1 month ago by laurav_27
No stars but couldnt say that!!!
i am extremely disappointed with this product.
that seller was great but the item overall was a hugh let down. Read more
that seller was great but the item overall was a hugh let down. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Haz666
well...
I think this is something most metallica fans may want... however the information i found in this book i already knew, it is mainly all mainstream news. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kierang
Research????
This badly written book is a disgrace to journalism. The author continually gives his opinion of Metallica songs as if they are fact, he's entitled to his opinion but I did not get... Read more
Published 11 months ago by kotg2
WARNING METALLICA FANS: DO NOT BUY
This is so bad, that I will not waste space saying that the "author" has no idea since he never actually meets or interviews the subject of his "book". Read more
Published 15 months ago by jason m
A truly great book!
First of all, this is my first book by Mark Eglinton, but I guarantee it won't be the last! I've been a huge fan of Metallica and most of all - it's driving force, James Hetfield,... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jarno Ukkola
Metallica at the Wolfs Door
Just completed reading Mark Eglingtons book and must say,really enjoyed it.It wasnt a book that you cant put down,however when I did pick it up again,you always remembered where... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Andy King
Bold, entertaining, back-stage-pass of a read.
I opened this book and was thoroughly entertained and engaged and didn't set it down until I finished it and needed the other hand to surf through the list of URLs listed on its... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Ellie Kenworth
Great book
This was a great read. Couldn't put it down. I thought I knew most things about Metallica, but this booked brought me into touch with people from the Metallica story who I'd never... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Raymond Elma
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