Metallica puts its best foot forward: Customized Vans

Metallica has been in showbiz since forming in 1981.

Now the legendary rock band is in shoe biz.

The quartet, continuing its creative partnership with Vans, is introducing a signature collection of four shoe styles, each designed by a member of the band. The footwear, arriving in stores this month, reflects each member's influences from the worlds of music, action sports and art. Each design is paired with a video that unveils the shared passions of the musician and his favorite Vans team riders. For videos and details, check out vans.com/metallica and metallica.com.

The Vans X Metallica Shoes:

• James Hetfield: Inspired by his favorite black boots, the guitarist added hex-bolt eyelets and a skull-and-crossbones motif to "Metallicize" the Vans Sk8-Hi Deconstruct.
• Lars Ulrich: The drummer updated the Vans Classic Era Laceless with brushed twill materials and a print borrowed from the diamond-plate pattern on his snare, finishing the show with a Dirty Donny character on the inside heel.
• Kirk Hammett: A guitar pick inspired by his Ouija guitar accents the inside heel of his collapsible Slip-On, with an all-natural upper made of hemp, a reflection of his love for surfing and nature.
• Robert Trujillo: The Escuela shoe bears Aztec calendar artwork, designed by the bassist's wife, Chloe, carved into one of his bass guitars and placed against a blue background. Trujillo wore Vans as a young skater in Venice, Calif.

In March, Vans and the band will reveal Kill 'Em All-themed shoes in the company's Classic Slip-On and Sk8-Hi styles with artwork commemorating 30 years since the release of Metallica's debut.