Metallica’s classic lineup are all in their early 60s as of 2026, with the “current” four members born between 1962 and 1964. That puts them firmly in veteran-legend territory while still touring and recording actively.

Current band members

  • James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar) – Born August 3, 1963, so he is 62 years old in 2025 and turns 63 in 2026. As co‑founder and frontman, he has been with Metallica since 1981.
  • Lars Ulrich (drums) – Born December 26, 1963, making him 61 in late 2024, 62 in 2025, and 62–63 through 2026 depending on the date. He is the other founding member and has never left the band.
  • Kirk Hammett (lead guitar) – Born November 18, 1962, so he is 62–63 years old around 2025–2026. He joined in 1983, just before the recording of the debut album, replacing Dave Mustaine.
  • Robert Trujillo (bass) – Born October 23, 1964, which puts him around 61 in 2025–2026. He became Metallica’s bassist in 2003 and has held the role longer than any other bassist in the band’s history.

Ages at a glance (HTML table)

Here’s a quick Quick Scoop style table for the current four members, using their widely reported birthdates and their approximate age span for 2025–2026:

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Member</th>
      <th>Role</th>
      <th>Birthdate</th>
      <th>Approx. age (2025–2026)</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>James Hetfield</td>
      <td>Vocals, rhythm guitar</td>
      <td>August 3, 1963</td>
      <td>62–63 years</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Lars Ulrich</td>
      <td>Drums</td>
      <td>December 26, 1963</td>
      <td>61–63 years</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Kirk Hammett</td>
      <td>Lead guitar</td>
      <td>November 18, 1962</td>
      <td>62–63 years</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Robert Trujillo</td>
      <td>Bass</td>
      <td>October 23, 1964</td>
      <td>60–62 years</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

These ranges come from combining their known birth years with recent fan and biography pieces that discuss “how old are the members of Metallica” in the mid‑2020s.

Former and classic members

While your question focuses on the current band, fans often include key former members when talking about “how old are Metallica band members.”

  • Cliff Burton (bass, 1982–1986) – Born February 10, 1962 and tragically died on September 27, 1986 at age 24 after a bus accident in Sweden.
  • Jason Newsted (bass, 1986–2001) – Born March 4, 1963, which places him in the same early‑60s age bracket as the rest of the classic lineup today.
  • Dave Mustaine (lead guitar, early 1983) – Born September 13, 1961, so he is also in his early to mid‑60s now, though he is best known as the frontman of Megadeth.

Age, stamina, and today’s tours

Metallica’s ages are a big talking point in fan communities because they still play long, high‑energy shows more than four decades after forming in 1981. Forum and blog discussions around recent tours note that, despite being in their 60s, they are still headlining stadiums, playing 16‑plus‑song sets, and revisiting fast, technical songs from the early albums, even if some parts are adjusted to fit their present physical limits.

Many fans frame their current era as “legends still going strong,” pointing out that what they do on stage at their age is already more than most younger bands ever manage.

TL;DR: All four current Metallica members are around 60–63 years old in 2025–2026, with the band continuing to tour and perform at a level that keeps their age a constant but respectful point of discussion among fans.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.