Metallica's James Hetfield says he moved out of San Fran. because of the city's 'elitist attitude

James Hetfield, founder and frontman of the world-famous metal band Metallica, says he recently moved out of his home city of San Francisco because he simply couldn't deal with the city's "elitist attitude" any longer.

Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Hetfield explained that, despite calling Northern California home for the last several decades, he had to move because he could no longer take being looked down upon for his lifestyle choices and political views.

Instead, Hetfield says that liberal San Francisco residents accept "diversity" only if you're like them.

"I kind of got sick of the Bay Area, the attitudes of the people there, a little bit," Hetfield said. "They talk about how diverse they are, and things like that, and it's fine if you're diverse like them. But showing up with a deer on the bumper doesn't fly in Marin County."

"I love the ocean, and I love the Bay Area, I love what it's got to offer, but there's just an attitude that it was — it wasn't healthy for me," he added. "[I was] starting to feel like I was just fighting all the time, and I just had to get out of my own head."

Hetfield went on to explain that he and his wife, Francesca, decided to relocate to Vail, Colorado — a popular ski resort town in the Rocky Mountains — because he loves the outdoors and hunting. It is also the town his wife grew up in.

"So Colorado does it for me," Hetfield said.

Relevant portion begins at the five-minute mark: