Watch: Metallica's James Hetfield performs live for first time since rehab

Papa Het appeared on stage at a tribute gig for the late American rock singer Eddie Money at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills last Thursday (20th February), where he performed an acoustic version of Money’s 1978 track ‘Baby Hold On’.

As well as performing, James Hetfield also regaled a story about his friendship with Eddie Money and how they met at an Oakland Raiders American football game.

"So I got to hang out with Eddie the last probably three years of his life," James explained to the audience. "I saw the cleaned-up version of Eddie.”

Reflecting on their first meeting, James said: "I met him before he went out there (to sing the national anthem), and he kinda blew me off.

"I thought, 'Who is is this pompous ass?' And if you spot it, you've got it, is what I'm saying. So it was like two big dogs going in a circle around each other, which was kind of funny. I saw through it. I saw through that ego, and he saw through mine, and we got to be friends, 'cause I think our egos matched the size or our insecurities."

Watch fan-filmed footage of James Hetfield’s live return:

It’s the second time James Hetfield has appeared in public since entering rehab for addiction, after he attended the launch of his custom car exhibition in Los Angeles last month.

The ‘A Star-Studded Tribute to Eddie Money’ concert was held to raise money for the USC Eddie Money Cancer Research Fund and also featured performances from George Thorogood, Sammy Hagar and Rick Springfield, amongst others.

James Hetfield is set to return to the stage with Metallica at Estadio Nacional on Wednesday 15th April as part of a six-date South American stadium tour. It’s the latest leg of Metallica’s WorldWired Tour.

Earlier this month, Metallica postponed their All Within My Hands Helping Hands Concert in San Francisco until the autumn.