Sigur Rós

Hetfield picks hot rods, Trujillo picks waves—Metallica’s alt-universe careers.

On episode 98 of “The Metallica Report,” James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo field questions that stretch beyond fretwork and tour routines. Prompted by a fan’s curiosity, both speculate with a hint of self-awareness on where they might have landed had Metallica never become their gravitational center.

Hetfield suggests he might have gone into auto mechanics or custom hot rods, revealing an affinity for grease and gearshifts. Trujillo, sidestepping sentimentality, says he'd be surfing—probably somewhere warmer—with his bass strings traded for waves.

In a splash of romance, Metallica's Hetfield proposes underwater on Instagram.

In an audacious underwater escapade, Metallica's James Hetfield pops the big question to his soon-to-be fiancée.

He shares this adventurous moment with the world via Instagram, proclaiming the simple yet profound joy of her affirmative nod.