Music
James Hetfield is being honoured for his work in helping musicians recover from addiction.
The Metallica frontman will receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award from the MusiCares MAP Fund.
The charity aims to help industry professionals recover from addiction, and wants to recognise former alcoholic Hetfield's help in this area.
Hetfield said it was important for addicts to know there was help available, telling Billboard.com: "I don't believe that you have to walk straight into the fire to know how hot it is."
"That was my path. The biggest awareness is that you're not alone and that there is some help. When people get so far into it, where they feel their life isn't worth anything, that's too far," he continued. "But, you can survive it. That's important to know."
The star will receive his award at a ceremony on May 12, where he will perform with Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney.
Hetfield, whose band is currently recording, also said work was easier without drink. Recording is "very different because there is a lot more awareness of what we are doing and sometimes over-thinking it," he explained. "Now we are very present for it all and I'm not afraid to do or try anything musically.
"[It's] going great because everyone is present and everyone is enjoying the process. [Drummer] Lars [Ulrich] and I would butt heads daily. It would be going to war every day.
"You'd suit up in your armor before you go in the studio," he said. "Battling back and forth. Now it's helping each other do the best of their ability. It's all moving toward the same goal instead of pulling back."
The Metallica frontman will receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award from the MusiCares MAP Fund.
The charity aims to help industry professionals recover from addiction, and wants to recognise former alcoholic Hetfield's help in this area.
Hetfield said it was important for addicts to know there was help available, telling Billboard.com: "I don't believe that you have to walk straight into the fire to know how hot it is."
"That was my path. The biggest awareness is that you're not alone and that there is some help. When people get so far into it, where they feel their life isn't worth anything, that's too far," he continued. "But, you can survive it. That's important to know."
The star will receive his award at a ceremony on May 12, where he will perform with Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney.
Hetfield, whose band is currently recording, also said work was easier without drink. Recording is "very different because there is a lot more awareness of what we are doing and sometimes over-thinking it," he explained. "Now we are very present for it all and I'm not afraid to do or try anything musically.
"[It's] going great because everyone is present and everyone is enjoying the process. [Drummer] Lars [Ulrich] and I would butt heads daily. It would be going to war every day.
"You'd suit up in your armor before you go in the studio," he said. "Battling back and forth. Now it's helping each other do the best of their ability. It's all moving toward the same goal instead of pulling back."
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