James Hetfield Inducted Into Downey High Hall Of Fame

May 27, 2011

[@wolfmangml1]

I was there and to meet James was breath taking. And then I asked the principle if he can ask James to play something on stage. ( James donated his ESP les Paul) and he thought that I asked if I could play something so he said to the whole crowd that a fan would like to play something and I couldn't refuse. I was a little intimidated to see one of my idols watch me play guitar. Then I was over whelmed when I played the first 2 chords of For Whom the Bell Tolls. James lit up and had a big BIG sm

[@rosiewhitfield123]

Oh man that would've been so neat. Lovely to hear this story, George ☺☺☺☺

[@milan.0363]

bro u must be so gracefull to meet him broo!! btw whats SM the last word which u wrote?

[@garzzum]

@@milan.0363 I think they tried to say smile but it cut off :)

[@milan.0363]

@@garzzum yaa tysm👍

[@rtothes936]

The doubt has been removed about your sexually preference. Your tell was the all too eager narrative brag about a Rockstar visiting a back country Mormon settlement. 🌈

[@nomadicle6867]

i can't believe this legend went to my high school.

[@rosiewhitfield123]

It's so amazing what you found out. Several people who I went to highschool with have been in and under the Australian Football league. You've sure got to be so happy to know James Hetfield went to Downey highschool ☺☺☺

[@iupiter.161]

I live in the middle of nowhere in Germany, but my grandparents are living only a few kilometres from the Scorpions home. And "Fury in the Slaughter house" play soccer there every year 🤘🏾

[@andrewkostecka1827]

Afterwards Metallica played So What.

[@martos60]

LMAO!

[@varunshenoy5783]

hahah....

[@greggotti9740]

SHOULD YOU LISTEN TO YOUR TEACHERS? OH, YEAH? OH, YEAH? SO FUCKING WHAT?

[@timnoseworthy4623]

😂

[@NamelessKing.Sun1]

Or dyers eve 🤬

[@MySeasideRendezvous]

James is actually very socially awkward, just not when he's playing music. That's what I love about him :) He's actually as shy as I am, which helps me cope with how much I used to hate my shyness. I accept it and love it now thanks to him.

[@rosiewhitfield123]

I am socially very awkward at the best of times. When you grow up hard, I seriously think it's an habitual trait and behavior. This is learnt by who have been through ever so much emotional, physical and psychological pain in their younger years. It's certainty not "oh poor me." All who have been through heaps of b.s that life can throw at you are so much like the reserved James Hetfield and myself, Rosie Whitfield.

[@MetallicAAlabamA]

James Hetfield is the leader of the highly school misfits who didn't feel wanted or liked. Thank you Het, for giving me hope, and inspiration. Love you man!

[@jerryflack4eva]

only he would say he hated this school at an induction

[@urilevy1]

Students in this school are so godamn lucky!

[@stuartewoldt1513]

What if they inducted him during the justice album. Much different James would have showed up

[@NamelessKing.Sun1]

DEAR TEACHER ! DEAR TEACHER WHAT IS THIS HELL YOU HAVE PUT ME THROUGH!!

[@Adam-bq6ic]

i feel like he still would've been nice about it. all of metallica was pretty down to earth in interviews and stuff even in the early days

[@manuelag.h.7471]

JAMES HETFIELD! LOVE THAT VOICE! yyyyyyeeeeeeaaa\m/

[@2WK09]

I go to this school haha...teachers always mention James but what they never mention is that he actually hated this place...honestly I do to but then again I hate every school I go to lmao...

[@MTAlupyourass]

I freakin LOVE Het man, greatest dude EVER!

[@rosiewhitfield123]

Oh his just such an incredible human being. I love him. His so decent and not full of himself at all 💖💖💖💖💖😍😍😍😍

[@mr.x8391]

He was in my friends band while they all attended DHS. The band was called, Obsession.

[@NeverLostRoamer]

Was your friend Ron Veloz? I ask because I knew Ron played in a band with James. Ron and I were on the track team together.

[@NEVERLEAVEORFORSAKE]

It's very cool to see another side of James. :-)

[@BreakdownFacemusic]

So touching. Hetfield rocks! Love from Wales, UK.

[@katekrylov]

How James went to school and was busy trying not to hate it! Compliments to his teacher of English. I understand, because I am a teacher of English by profession myself.

[@josebywater7187]

I am so happy for James I can't hardly wait to see hem come back to he's family praying for you 🙏 my brother

[@kirrithkovacs5097]

6:45 Look how nervous he is, hands back in pockets eyes darting around..

[@mayorarce]

This is one of the coolest youtube videos ever, what an awesome guy!

[@janetrosales697]

I remeber when James came to Downey High,I wanted his autograph so bad and hadn't had the chance to get one from him.:-(

[@metalvz-ic7xg]

james was one decision away from never being in a band, god that would suck.

[@1012Baseball]

and the bassist for my band got to play Orion for him and get his shirt sign! SOB! :(

[@suicidebag666]

I graduated in 2000 from that school. Hated it. But miss it.

[@Nara13ful]

this is so awesome... this is the only reason why i'm happy to be at Downey High

[@19askmeificare69]

It’s so endearing that James took the time to accept this in person. He is not your typical rock star, by any means. He’s a big brother to me…about 5 years older. The most relatable comment was “I USED TO HIDE.” That is a description of me and many other misfits in their adolescence. When I met him backstage one of the two nights at Long Beach Arena in ‘89, December, I think, I was 18. I was stone cold sober, but very nervous and yet determined to say something to him. After much teeth grinding, I got up and approached him . I reached out my hand to his. He shook it. I just said, “James, how the fuck are you?” He could have said a lot of things like, “fine,” or “good,” or whatever….but he met me at my level by replying “fucking good, man.” That was it. That’s all I needed too. It’s much more meaningful now than it was then. I see myself in him. My first show was ‘86 at the San Diego Sports Arena, opening for Ozzy. I was 16. Not sober, at all. Most recently , I saw them in Florence , Italy, June 19, 2022. The crowd, at first, wasn’t singing along they were two nights prior, in Landgraaf. Noticeably absent was an empty space where we the fans sing “Whiplash.” But, that one word …it’s like it got sucked into the void and never emanated from the crowd. (Later in the set, they were very vocal, yes.) It probably had to do with something other than what they thought of James. But, I really related to the inquiring remarks by him like “you guys okay…” and self deprecatingly uttering “crazy singer guy…” which tells me he is a lovely, vulnerable man. He wants his audience to be happy, genuinely. And, I wish, like my therapist wishes for me, to need to be accepted only by myself. And, yet we still look for the outer environment to tell us we are okay, and not rejected. Lifelong work , that is . I love you, James. Thanks so much.

[@jasonfan99]

JAMES HETFIELD = METAL GOD LONG LIVE METALLICA

[@Ferocityvideos]

I went to Downey High! Go Vikings!

[@michaelking42]

Great video thank you for uploading this! Love James Hetfield.

[@DeadlyCreatures]

Go James!

[@dromo76]

Mr. Houts knew James hetfield went to Downey in the 90s. He was a vice principal. He was just waiting for the moment to get him in once he turned principal. Mr houts is a legend himself.

[@annetteslife]

Way to go James

[@DadosBR]

Thats really touching. Thanks. :)

[@kingzuna8007]

This is so inspirational for me. I hope I get to that level one day

[@Stonedpimpin76]

I attended and graduated Downey High. In my experience it was much like a John Hughes movie. Rich popular kids were everything and everyone else were basically shit. They recently had the 20th reunion and from what I saw on facebook it was attended mainly by those same people who were the Hughes movie "villains". I still live near the school and wow is it way different than when I went there.

[@diegotrigueros7026]

It was totally like that, when I was there. Graduated the year before he came for this. I think we all can relate to him in the way he described his time there. Fuck that school, but big ups to what it gave us with Metallica \m/

[@buckroger2808]

This is amazing to listen to James in front of the alumni and press where he attended secondary school. To hear and learn how James went through the trials and tribulations while attending high school. Being a true Metallica fan for many, many years. Metallica rarely or never showed or talked about their past. So in recent years to hear about the members personal life stories and how they over-come a situation. This video proves that if you have a dream, it is not impossible to achieve!

[@boa1678]

How beautiful event ❤️🤘

[@PiazzaGurl]

He’s soooo cute. And honest and he did play sports. I think he played Football.

[@pilartxo]

Wow! 3 days and 10000 visits. I'm in shock...

[@NeverLostRoamer]

Thanks for posting, that was pretty cool, that made my day!

[@MrMetallicaMetallica]

What a champ!

[@SPGRAMPA1]

Wow that's cool!!

[@skylerstonesifer4654]

I go to this school xP

[@METALHasIt]

gosh! my bd....I LOVE YOU JAAAAAAAAAAMES!!!

[@NeverLostRoamer]

Niiiice, James and I both went to DHS at the same time, it's so cool to see this video many years later, thanks for posting.

[@HarperArtinalus]

How tall was he back then

[@HarperArtinalus]

Back when you first met him

[@ThaiThom]

That was really something, actually.

[@1012Baseball]

So i waiting outside the theatre for hours!! I didnt go to some classes just hoping to see him and get his autograph! i honestly was gonna cry because he is one of my idols and for my friends that were there got his autographs and stuff just made me burst into flames! i didnt get his autograph :/ but wow JAMES A RAIDER FAN!?!? WTF!!! Im a charger FAN!

[@CoyoteBongwater]

My older cousin's an art teacher at this school and apparently she didn't meet him. I kinda want to go to this school now >.

[@joeymiller3907]

There's allot of Kirk Hammett's in that row in front of the camera.

[@PatriotIzzy]

Love ya Papa Het!

[@MaggotKumar]

awesome.

[@KlifMcNewsted]

Love it.....Cheers from a german misfit!

[@ayericky4903]

Wow now that’s cool, I go to DHS I’m a sophomore.

[@eliasvelasco1173]

i go 2 downey

[@petemcfadden3543]

Humble Het!!. 🤘...

[@dellHumanizer]

The old man with hawaian shirt is the coauch Cummings?

[@bifesujo]

I HAVE A DREAM! ASPESSOASPODEM SONHAR, ELAS PODEM SER O QUE QUISEREM, SENDO ESTRANHO OU FORA DOS PADROES 'NORMAIS', TANXX AGAIN JAMES! YOU STAR WILL SHINE!!

[@freeway8914]

class of 09 but graduated in Columbus

[@s8u5z91y]

Went to Columbus too and didn't graduate in 09..lol

[@dannyromo9555]

Mr Houts! The man!!

[@sinceunati]

I got to play a gig with my band at a kinda punk club in Downey a few years ago. I think it was called The Library??? I think??

[@s8u5z91y]

If i attended the same years as James Hetfield we would of definitely ditched together at some point

[@HarperArtinalus]

How tall was James when you first met him and after you guys graduated

[@ShortFingeredShreder]

Was that James's coach at 7:17?

[@rosiewhitfield123]

Yeah I think that was coach Cummings @7:17@shortfingeredshreader

[@NeverLostRoamer]

I don't think so, coach Cummings had red hair and a whole LOT of freckles.

[@jd.garcia7555]

James keeps saying UH and Lars says UM

[@jeffcharles3705]

I like he said how basically he hated high school, and thanked the coach for inspiring him to quit! Lol😅👍

[@1012Baseball]

@Nara13ful me too man

[@hxbfsduo]

whats ric flair doing there????

[@timnoseworthy4623]

Wooooo!

[@user-nc3cz9ul6f]

@@timnoseworthy4623 Woooooooo

[@alonzo2k]

Didn't also Ron Mcgov. Go to DHS with James?

[@NeverLostRoamer]

Yes, he did, I thought for sure James would have given him a shout out.

[@rikysix]

was that old dude his coach?

[@mvp111MCA]

big Up from a Berber misfit

[@SkuIlkrusher]

@valdivia562 LOL! Lars is a baller

[@mandyhylton9633]

I go to downey high school i feel sorry for people that go to warren xD ha nvm

[@malcolmforest9268]

I dont get it !!! James was born & raised in Downey CA a Suburb of Los Angeles , but him & Metalica are based in SF & him & his band members are San Francisco Sports fans ??? Like the Giants Baseball team ???

[@JerryAsbury1985]

reward 4 chikani What behind the music, you'll find out why their in SF.

[@Beatdownkioskman]

they moved to san fran so cliff would join the band

[@JasminaFun]

Lols . They forgot "and guitarist" d'oh

[@cryptoslimer8589]

What year was this?

[@AnaBanAna.24]

2011 :)

[@r3d0c]

@valdivia562 Lmfao xD

[@bollwerk94]

this shit makes me laugh XD fuck school ^^

[@eliasvelasco1173]

i go 2 downey

[@malcolmforest9268]

I dont get it !!! James was born & raised in Downey CA a Suburb of Los Angeles , but him & Metalica are based in SF & him & his band members are San Francisco Sports fans ??? Like the Giants Baseball team ???

[@malcolmforest9268]

+Alessandro Piersanti. I was born in Downey.

[@malcolmforest9268]

***** but james wasn't !!!

[@paulcrosby7419]

+Forry g yeah but metallica started in LA but it never took off until they got to san fran.

[@paulcrosby7419]

+Goreball studios also they hate L.A because the town spat on them and the music they played

[@malcolmforest9268]

Hatfied said he asked a fan why he spit on him ? The fan sald because u guys made a music video. Lol!!!