imported>Crème de la Mer: James lived with David Hale, one of his two older half-brothers from his mother’s first marriage.

2025-06-10T19:38:01Z

James lived with David Hale, one of his two older half-brothers from his mother’s first marriage.

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{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{short description|American hard rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Leather Charm
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Downey, California]], U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Hard rock]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Bob |last= Gulla |authorlink= Bob Gulla |year= 2009 |title= Guitar Gods: The 25 Players who Made Rock History |publisher= [[ABC-CLIO]] |page= 100 |isbn= 978-0-313-35806-7 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DL3I9qQWdeAC&pg=PA100}}</ref>|[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]}}
| years_active = 1981
| label =
| spinoffs = [[Metallica]]
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Metallica]]
* [[Phantasm (band)|Phantasm]]
}}
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = * [[James Hetfield]]
* [[Ron McGovney]]
* Hugh Tanner
* Troy James
* Jim Mulligan
}}

'''Leather Charm''' was an American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band from [[Downey, California]], noteworthy as a forerunner to [[Metallica]]. The group rehearsed [[new wave of British heavy metal]] covers and original material for a period of months in 1981.

==History==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2024}}

Leather Charm was formed in June 1981 following the demise of Phantom Lord, a [[Garage rock|garage band]] featuring [[James Hetfield]] and guitarist Hugh Tanner. At the time, Hetfield was living with an older half-brother in [[Brea, California]] and attending [[Brea Olinda High School]] after the unforeseen death of his mother.<ref name=mwuk>{{cite web|url=http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1997_ronmcgovney.htm|title=Ron McGovney Interview|publisher=Metallica World|date=1997|accessdate=January 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031107130133/http://www.metallicaworld.co.uk/Interviews/1997_ronmcgovney.htm|archive-date=November 7, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the new band, Hetfield and Tanner were joined by Hetfield's childhood friend and roommate [[Ron McGovney]], and later drummer Jim Mulligan. While Hetfield had played guitar in Phantom Lord, he acted solely as lead vocalist in Leather Charm. Tanner was replaced several months later by guitarist Troy James.

The group was influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal and practiced covers of songs by such bands of the period, including [[Diamond Head (English band)|Diamond Head]] and [[Sweet Savage]]. They were also influenced by [[Iron Maiden]] and covered their songs "Remember Tomorrow" and "Wrathchild".

When Mulligan left the group in late 1981, Leather Charm disbanded and Hetfield began working with drummer [[Lars Ulrich]] on a new band, [[Metallica]]. Early the next year, McGovney and guitarist [[Dave Mustaine]] completed Metallica's first gigging lineup. The Leather Charm song "Hit the Lights" was integrated into the band's set among the first original compositions in the band's repertoire, and eventually became the opening track on their debut album, ''[[Kill 'Em All]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Doughton, K.J. ''Metallica Unbound: The Unofficial Biography''. First Edition. Time-Warner Books, 1993. Pages 16–17

{{Metallica}}

[[Category:Metallica]]
[[Category:Hard rock musical groups from California]]
[[Category:Musicians from Downey, California]]
[[Category:Brea Olinda High School alumni]]

{{US-metal-band-stub}}

Leather Charm - Revision history

imported>Crème de la Mer: James lived with David Hale, one of his two older half-brothers from his mother’s first marriage.