Metallica singer stopped at airport for 'Taliban' beard

GOTFIVEONIT · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 03:14 AM

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/2...kFfGq9 FrPA--

James Hetfield, singer of U.S. heavy metal band Metallica, left, and guitarist Kirk Hammett perform on stage during a concert in Helsinki, Finland Sunday July 15, 2007.

Metallica singer stopped at airport for 'Taliban' beard

Wed Jul 11, 7:00 AM ET

Metallica frontman James Hetfield was stopped by security officials at London's Luton Airport for allegedly having a "Taliban-like" beard.

The band was on its way to perform at Live Earth on Saturday (July 7).

Hetfield was briefly questioned by airport officials until they realised who he was. No explanation was given for why he was stopped, but his bandmates speculated that it was due to his beard.

Meanwhile, Metallica's new album is due out in early 2008, with bassist Robertt Trujillo telling Blabbermouth: "There's a lot of everything, man. There's speed on this. There's a couple of tracks where you're gonna go, 'Wow!' and I know you're gonna like it because it has the flavor of the old. But it has this kind of groove and power behind it that I think is us today."

Wolfn · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 05:23 AM

Damn, no-one's safe.

kenneth · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 05:52 AM

Hetfield in the Taliban?

lol

yeah right. and Elton John is a member of RAND Corp.

GOTFIVEONIT · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 07:37 AM

i guess it makes them "The Unforgiven" get it LOL

GOTFIVEONIT · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenneth

Hetfield in the Taliban?

lol

yeah right. and Elton John is a member of RAND Corp.

Hetfield is too much of a bad ass to be in the Taliban, he rocks!

Wesley · #6 (**permalink**) 07-28-2007, 07:41 AM

Apparently this didn't happen.

Blue_Phoenix · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 01:19 PM

Better explain that, Wes. Lots of dumb things are going down in this country. If it involves security stupidity of ANY kind, there's an excellent chance that it happened.

ChotooMotoo · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 01:53 PM

naw... he got stopped and searched for drugs. Airport security guys wanna get high too, and when they see rock stars, the idea of free illegal drugs just makes them crazy.

GOTFIVEONIT · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 05:01 PM

it happened. i read it on several music websites as well.

Revert · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOTFIVEONIT

it happened. i read it on several music websites as well.

Music Journalism is not exactly the most reputable, if it DID happen it would have been all over the Alternative/Metal forums/news sites.

Liam_Saiful_Din · #11 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 01:08 PM

From Metallica.com

MESSAGE FROM JAMES
7/20/2007

In the last few weeks there have been a lot of rumors flying around saying that I was detained by airport security in London while on tour in Europe. I'm here to tell you that it never happened . . . pure fabrication! The story is simply that there is no story . . . it's scary how gullible and easily fooled the press is!

With that said, we had a blast out there on the "Sick of the Studio" tour and big thanks to everyone who came out to the shows and to the crew who made it happen. Now back to the studio . . .

farah · #12 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 11:52 PM

pssht. if shutting down napster isn't a terroristic activity ("they hate our freedom!") then i dunno what is!

(just kidding, FBI, i swear, i know what constitutes terrorism and a terrorist and would never engage in activities that would be labeled, or would label me, as such)