James Hetfield, the lead guitarist and composer for Metallica, has been in the news lately after divorcing his wife, Francesca, with whom he had been married for more than 25 years. The couple, who have three children, kept their separation quiet when they filed for divorce earlier this year.
They married in August 1997 but generally kept their private life away from the public eye. Now that their split is known, neither Hetfield nor Francesca has commented about the details. Cali, Marcella, and Castor are their three children, though their ages have not been disclosed. Hetfield has often mentioned his career came first, and he didn’t prioritize his family as much.
Francesca, who works as a costume designer, has had a long career in fashion, but little is known about her life now. She first met Hetfield during the Wherever We May Tour when she worked with the band. Over the years, Francesca has been spotted traveling with Hetfield and Metallica on several occasions.
Hetfield, who has struggled with addiction in the past, has shared how his wife helped him manage issues, including his anger. In interviews, Hetfield admitted both he and Francesca were embarrassed by his destructive behaviors. In 2001, Hetfield went into rehab to fight his addiction, and in 2019, he returned to treatment for alcohol use. He made his first public appearance after rehab in January 2020 at the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Known as one of the co-founders of Metallica, Hetfield has had a successful career with the band. He has won nine Grammy Awards and released multiple albums, including ten studio albums, three live albums, and 24 singles. Before joining Metallica, Hetfield played in a band called Leather Charm, which broke up before he joined forces with drummer Lars Ulrich to create Metallica.
