Metallica's James Hetfield hails 'riff lord' Tony Iommi as his biggest inspiration
He lavishes the Black Sabbath legend with praise
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has hailed Tony Iommi as the “ultimate riff lord’ and his biggest inspiration.
In the latest episode of the Papa Het’s Riff Life show on SiriusXM's station Maximum Metallica, James took the opportunity to praise Black Sabbath guitarist and heavy metal torchbearer Tony Iommi.
"Tony Iommi is the riff lord, in my mind, and he is the one that has inspired me the most out of any guitar player for my rhythm guitar playing and songwriting," James enthused.
"Yeah, the 'Children of the Grave' (Black Sabbath’s 1971 song) riff. Obviously, Tony is the riff lord, and everyone starts the song together on the one riff.”
After mimicking Tony’s chugging riffs, James continued: “Basically, Tony plays off that riff, goes in to hit the big giant chords, which opens the song up.
“I really love the drum overdub that they did to help with that percussion of the riff and the real cool ghostly guitar sounds at the very, very end."
In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, James Hetfield said Metallica wouldn’t exist without Black Sabbath – echoing comments Lars Ulrich made during Sabbath’s Rock Hall induction in 2006.
“I realise that without their defining sound, as my friend Lars has said, there would be no Metallica, especially with one James Hetfield,” he said.
“Never have I known a more timeless and influential band. They have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians.”
Metallica were among the plethora of huge acts who performed at Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park in July 2025.
Tony Iommi's first solo album in 21 years, 'From The Dark', is released on Friday 23rd October via BMG.