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Metallica Singer Cuts Off Hiker's Happy Trail

Posted Aug 19th 2008 4:02PM by TMZ Staff

No dirty, nature loving hippie is going to hike in James Hetfield's backyard -- but the fence he built to keep them, and everybody else, off his property is really pissing off the locals.

Several hikers and cyclists up in Northern Cali have their spandex in a wad because the Metallica frontman has blocked access to a hiking trail by erecting a 10-foot high fence around his property.

According to KTVU, the rockstar supposedly built the barrier to stop vandalism on his newly purchased land (on which the trail runs through) -- but the fence itself has since been vandalized with the words "shame" and "disgrace."

Het's reps had no comment.





Tags: james hetfield, JamesHetfield

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46. Sorry but by common law if there has been a public trail though a piece of property, the public has a right of way and the owner of the property cannot block access. The only exception to this is if the owner of the property has always closed access to the public trail at least one day a year. I don't know what sort of accommodation Hatfield is attempting to arrange with the local authorities and I hope they can work it out so that everyone is happy (except for the occasional malcontent). It is still disgraceful to deface the fence with graffiti no matter what your opinion of Hatfield's actions.

Go Sox

Posted at 8:51PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Baseball Junkie

47. I heard James Hetfield's dad molested him and that's why James Hetfield hates hikists! James Hetfield's dad was an avid hikist!

Posted at 8:56PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Jerry Jarvela

48. I think it's funny that here is a Hollywood liberal who believes America should open its borders to illegals coming in from Mexico, yet he wants to keep people off a hiking trail near his property by putting up a border fence. What a freaking hypocrite!

Posted at 9:14PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Nick

49. If the hikers wanted to use the land for their own purposes, they should have bought it. Where I come from whoever pays for a piece of property owns it and can do whatever they want to it. Shesh, idiot Californians. The story mentions nothing about an easement, those usually are for the purpose of utilities, not hiking trails.

Posted at 9:21PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Insert comical name here

50. WTF Its his land what do they think its like the United States & llegal Aliens? GOOD FOR HIM

Posted at 9:28PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Grabmesome

51. The guy bought the land fair and square. The silly goobers hiking and biking surely can find another place to do their thing.

Posted at 9:54PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Big Bear

52. Since when is it a shame and a disgrace to fence off your own sh*t that you purchased with the $$ you worked so hard to earn?

Posted at 10:22PM on Aug 19th 2008 by SoCal

53. If someone vandalized my sh*t I'd take it back too! Sometimes it doesn't pay to be nice.

Posted at 10:24PM on Aug 19th 2008 by SoCal

54. Same guy that helped shut down Napster...no surprise he doesn't want to share his land. He didn't want to share the music either!

Posted at 10:45PM on Aug 19th 2008 by alango

55. Hetfield is GOD and can do whatever the F' he wants!

Posted at 7:56AM on Aug 20th 2008 by BJH

56. then build the trail over his house like highway ramps he doesnt control the air

Posted at 1:07AM on Aug 20th 2008 by matt

57. Isn't it his property?!!!! So what the hell is the big deal? There is no story here really. I don't want jerk asses on my property, that's why I have a .45

Posted at 11:17PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Zach

58. "On which the trail runs through"?
Too many prepositions! Ouch!

"Through which the trail runs" would suffice.

Posted at 11:41PM on Aug 19th 2008 by Grammar Nazi

59. Weeeellll, which was there first? the trail or the property owner. Alot of trails in California go back to the 1800's. There is a possibility of a easment in place that give right of way for the trail to pass through the property, if not some lawyer is going to make some good cash filing one for the local trail organization.

James may want to review his loan papers for an easment before just tossing up a fence...could get sizable fine.

Posted at 12:21AM on Aug 20th 2008 by Kev

60. If you think you have any rights these days think again. A friend of mine had a dispute with a neighbor because they didn't like the way she kept her yard. A judge place a protective order on my friend because of the way her yard looked and because she had a bad attitude. Is an ugly yard and a bad attitude illegal? You don't even own your house or property. If it's paid off, the government will keep upping your taxes and if you don't pay, they take it from you. It wouldn't surprise me if Cali. makes Hetfield provide water also for these hikers. You have no rights people!

Posted at 1:05AM on Aug 20th 2008 by Ms. X

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