The current core lineup of Metallica are all in their early 60s as of 2026. They were all born in the early 1960s and have been playing together in this configuration since 2003.

Current member ages

Metallica’s classic-era lineup today is:

  • James Hetfield – Born August 3, 1963, which makes him 62 years old in 2026. He is the band’s co‑founder, lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist.
  • Lars Ulrich – Born December 26, 1963, so he is also 62 years old in 2026. He is the drummer and co‑founder of Metallica.
  • Kirk Hammett – Born November 18, 1962, putting him at 63 years old in 2026. He joined in 1983 as lead guitarist, just before the band recorded its debut album.
  • Robert Trujillo – Born October 23, 1964, making him 61 years old in 2026. He has been the band’s bassist since 2003 and appears on all studio material from the mid‑2000s onward.

Former member ages

Several former members are also closely associated with Metallica’s history.

  • Cliff Burton (bass) – Born February 10, 1962, he was only 24 when he died in a bus accident in 1986 while on tour in Sweden. His playing on early albums like “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets” is still highly celebrated.
  • Jason Newsted (bass) – Born March 4, 1963, he is in his early 60s as of the mid‑2020s. He joined after Burton’s death and played with the band from the late 1980s through the 1990s.
  • Dave Mustaine (lead guitar, early days) – Born September 13, 1961, he is mid‑60s as of 2026. He was in Metallica in the very early 1980s before going on to form Megadeth.

Ages in perspective

Despite being in their 60s, Metallica continues to tour stadiums worldwide and headline major festivals. Discussions on fan forums often highlight how demanding the band’s fast thrash‑metal style is for musicians at that age, which adds to the respect many fans express for their longevity.

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