Inside James Hetfield's Family Album: Photos, Projects, and Musical Ties with His Three Kids

Catch up with Inside James Hetfield's Family Album: Photos, Projects, and Musical Ties with His Three Kids. Discover key highlights in this concise summary.

Among the three siblings, Castor Virgil Hetfield has chosen the path closest to his father's stomping grounds. Born on May 18, 2000, Castor gravitated toward instruments early, but he bypassed the microphone and rhythm guitar in favor of the drum kit. During his college years in Savannah, Georgia, Castor co-founded the sludge-infused hard rock trio Bastardane alongside bassist/vocalist Jake Benn and guitarist Ethan Sirotzki.

Bastardane released their debut full-length album, Is This Rage?, in 2022, followed by extensive club touring across North America. Instead of relying on arena support slots or industry favors, the band built an organic following by packing mid-sized venues and selling physical merchandise directly to concertgoers. Castor's drumming style showcases thunderous, pocket-heavy cadences reminiscent of 1970s proto-metal, marked by raw physical energy rather than over-polished modern digital production.

The younger Hetfield has repeatedly emphasized in music trade interviews that Bastardane wants audiences to evaluate their music on its own merits. While his physical resemblance to his father during the Ride the Lightning era is unmistakable, Castor avoids riding Metallica’s coattails, preferring sweaty, 200-cap clubs over unearned fast tracks to festival main stages.