Metallica singer James Hetfield was investigated by UK airport officials who believed he was a terrorist this week, it has been claimed. The star was barred entry to Luton airport on Thursday and questioned by staff who were concerned about his appearance. Fears that Hetfield might be involved in terrorism were apparently founded on his "Taliban-like beard", according to The Times. He was allowed to leave the airport after a brief interrogation, when he persuaded officials that he was a rock star. Metallica play Live Earth at Wembley Stadium in London tomorrow, before headlining the venue for their own show on Sunday evening.

haha yeah I saw that linked off Drudge..how fuckin retarted, profiling by facial hair.

I'm by no means an expert, but don't Muslims also shun body art?

"Taliban-like beard"? Christ, I guess anyone in metal is going to have to watch out then. Zakk Wylde would get a full cavity search with that forest on his face. Although, in their defense, Load and Reload could be seen as an act of terrorism...

on James Hetfield convincing the airport officials that he is a rock star; not guitarist or lead vocals or simply with the band Metallica, he is a rock star!

Have to admit the guy is pretty scary looking in a hillbilly/prison inmate kind of way.

That explains why ZZ Top hasn't toured recently!

Nice to see that the UK officials at least have the balls to profile! Here in the good 'ol US, we'll give an 80 year old grandmother the same treatment that James got!

I really hope James sat back and laughed the entire time with a sense of humor because this has to be the most retarded shit I have ever heard of.
Now people will be linked to terrorism because of beards.....this has George W. written all over it.

Yes, the spiders web

except for the ones in prison

Leave Mike Tyson out of this!

Hetfield = Psychos R Us

yeah, he's British now too eh? More like it's got people scared of getting blown up written all over it.

Now if James would let it grow in the back of his head instead of the front, maybe i'll remember him, you to Lars...

Yes, that exactly what I meant
'If you have a long beard that resembles the Muslim look, you might be a redne...terrorist'

haha, this rocks. I love het, I'm sure he had a good laugh about this.

I don't know which is funnier/stupider:

1) Hetfield being suspected as a terrorist because of facial hair
2) Hetfield getting out of it by convincing officials he's a rock star
3) Blaming George Bush for stupidity in England

das

I thought they had him arrested for being a prat. He would not have been able to argue himself out of that one.

This is indeed proof that profiling works!

Do Not Enter Sandman!

...just like a wartime novelty...

I'm sure in Metallicas eyes anyone who has ever downloaded a song or copied a CD is a terrorist so I say what goes around comes around

Not at all, but someone with a "taliban-like beard" should certainly be "asked questions" and has more of a chance of being a threat than some 80 year old grandmother.

By the way, the whole story was false.

blabbermouth.net

Contrary to published reports, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield was not detained by U.K. airport security last week on his way to performing in London for Live Earth.

Britain's The Times claims that Hetfield was held and questioned due to what friends call his "Taliban-like beard." According to the paper, the METALLICA singer was briefly questioned before "red-faced" officials realized he was a rock star.

On Monday (July 9), a rep for Hetfield told Usmagazine.com that none of it ever happened. "It's false. It's not true."