Kirk Hammett “James’s struggle to get dry is a completely personal matter “The fact that we produce, bottle and sell alcohol is totally independent of this. “It is completely up to you whether you drink or not. And I think I can sell what I want. If I were a diabetic, that wouldn’t mean that I couldn’t sell sweets.”

Metallica have defended their decision to launch a whiskey, in spite of James Hetfield’s continuing battle with alcoholism.

The band’s bourbon blend Blackened landed in off licenses in 2018, but last year vocalist Hetfield went back to rehab after a setback with his drinking problems.

Bandmate Kirk Hammett insists they are unrelated: “You can’t compare the two things. James’s struggle to get dry is a completely personal matter mentally and emotionally.

“The fact that we produce, bottle and sell alcohol is totally independent of this.

“It is completely up to you whether you drink or not. And I think I can sell what I want. If I were a diabetic, that wouldn’t mean that I couldn’t sell sweets.”

Hetfield is out of rehab but the band have yet to hook up since: “We hold a virtual meeting once a week to keep in touch. James is working his way out of his situation. We can really only try to support him.”