Record Store Day 2016: James' Early Record Store Memories

Record Store Day is Saturday, April 16 and we’re honored to have been chosen as 2016’s official Record Store Day Ambassadors. Record stores are where our musical education began and was subsequently nurtured and shaped, playing a huge role in who we are as musicians today.

[morisajay]

James Hetfield holding an Iron Maiden record.... Makes my day

[ivanarnaudov]

He's one of the coolest people on the planet..

[mhcmad]

He's so famous..and yet he still looking up to the band's that inspired him during early days. He's proud to tell to everyone.. Down to earth..

[emedel]

I was about 12 years old and I begged my dad to take me to the record store because I had saved some money to buy a record. He took me and I bought the Number of the Beast which had just been released. He freaked out on the album cover but didn't mind me buying it, he was a cool dad like that. Not a record store story but I was at the local grocery store with my mom when I was about 10 and they had a little cardboard shelf stand with some new release albums for sale. I asked her to buy me Judas Priest British Steel and she did. When I was 13 I went to the mall record store and in the way back corner with very little lighting there was a small shelf labeled 'Underground music' written in black marker. There I bought an album called Kill em All. I went back a year later and bought Ride the Lightening off the same neglected shelf. When Puppets was released, those albums had been moved to the front of the store lol

[K.Straughan]

I bought Iron Maiden KILLERS on cassette when it first came out, completely changed my life... for the better I hope … still listen to it these days. Now 52 and still got the fire!

[uberhulk]

I love the fact he's still a fan of music as well as a artist

[SimoneCalloni]

My first disc was Piece of Mind by Maiden. Support bands and records, great message James!

[alejandrockalejo]

James 'em All
Ride the James
Master of James
...And James for All
The James Album
James
ReJames
St. James
James Magnetic
Hardwired... to James-Destruct

[manduheavyvazquez]

Sabbath, Motörhead, Judas Priest, Ozzy(band) and maiden the pillars of metal. Greatness.

[darkriff]

The first metal CD I bought was Pantera's "Vulgar Display of Power". The first Metallica CD I bought was "...And Justice For All". The 2 best metal albums I ever bought and are still my favourite 2 albums to this day. Everything I learned about guitars and writing metal songs are because of those albums. R.I.P Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott and long live James Hetfield.

[CosmicMetallMusic]

Maiden is cool, James made the right choice \m/

[AnnaNicoleXoxx]

I swear James looks so beautiful. Age has been good to him. Just beautiful. <3

[takingshape]

Props to the Baroness shirt. They're fantastic.

[luvsunshin]

I LOVE James Hetfield!!! He has a great sense of humor <3

[allways_djellow]

My favorite band is *Iron Maiden* then right behind comes *Metallica* and when James is telling is that Maiden is one of his biggest inspirations... that for me is so speciale and Awesome to hear

[thenewbgamer]

Album covers are just as important as the music itself.

[brondis]

I remember back in the day just as James said buying the album for the album cover, then realizing wait a second this album rocks.

[mjnation]

This is James from Metallica, survey says you need cash. Lol Just Kidding. James is a great guy.

[Otium]

i'm a Metallica fan and love Iron Maiden, wish more Maiden fans could do the same and stop shitting on Metallica

[metaldams]

I don’t know why I find James holding up the first Iron Maiden album to be wholesome - but I do. 😂