Kirk Hammett: Well, you know, in all honesty, it felt like where we were at Some Kind of Monster. And everything that has anything to do with me begins with me and ends with me. And ever since I was a kid, I have thought, 'If I'm up there having a good time and people see me having a good time, they're going to pick up on that good time and have a good time too. and there is nothing good on the radio, so he drives along the road Basically, its getting up there, playing guitar for people, and showing them a good time. L-O-V-E. People laugh, but I challenge anyone who might think that's corny: go to the core of it. What balance of being in that spiritual moment versus being in that emotionally reactive moment is influencing, or has, influenced what youve been writing recently on 72 Seasons? Fuck yeah! What do you feel in relation to the band? Thats what being in this business is like, and I can only say that now looking back. I didnt want to just sit there and wonder about the unknown or succumb to something that was so freaking unpredictable. You dont know how the process might change them. thought; when you've been in a band for as long as we have, you take In a 2007 episode (season 18), Otto Man's tape player breaks, For a long time I couldnt figure out what string gauges Jimi Hendrix used until [producer] Bob Rock found out and sent that information over to me. KH: You know, I think my pervading feeling and attitude is when I write a certain piece of music, and Im confident about it, and Im confident about its potential and its ability and the possibilities behind it, that piece of music speaks for itself. James Hetfield is 46 in august, Kirk is 47 in November, Lars is Ozzy Osbourne names his dream supergroup and it features three guitarists, Joe Bonamassa plays AC/DCs Back in Black like youve never heard it before in this soulful rhythm n blues reimagining, Huey Lewis and the News Chris Hayes: Am I an unappreciated guitar hero? And then it just grows exponentially from there. Then all of a sudden, something tells me to grab my guitar, and I grab my guitar, then all of a sudden, something comes out! KH: When I was younger, I would always pull from the past. When Kirk Hammett walks into HQ tan glowing, hair flowing he is carrying a small acoustic guitar. Just being put in a weird musical situation and saying, Okay, Im in a difficult musical situation, and Im really comfortable, now play from the heart That is a big, thats a tall order. So, when it came to actually doing the drum tracks, all of us playing together, vibing together, I think there was a new level of appreciation there for each other and a new level of appreciation for what we were doing. SC: It feels like youre doing it more confidently than ever on this project. That happens so much for me all the time. When its time to start coming up with songs and music, its really if you show up with music or not. Thats something weve been telling each other for a long time. This is what I do. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? Thats what youre really feeling when you go to a rock show. Playing guitar with an eye to writing music for the future. I try not to dissect it, or categorize it, or compartmentalize it. Joel McIver is a British author. Its wholly infectious, as youll read (and later see via Brett Murrays video work) for yourselves. Its just whether you fucking show up to the table with music or not. Metallicas long-awaited new album, 72 Seasons, finally arrived in its entirety last week, following a four-month wait that began when the heavy metal icons surprise-dropped its lead single and eye-grabbing artwork. BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. People like you ask me these sorts of questions, so I need to have a decent answer for them. Instead, be grateful that he was with us at all. Acoustic at the Masonic, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, ESP Black M-II - Skull & Crossbones (KH-2), Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 Stereo Power Amp. I mean, thats pretty much how all the leads were done. A short time later, Metallica recorded Kill 'Em All. This incredible dexterity demanded exposure, and one of the highlights of Metallicas set, back on that spring night in San Fran, was Cliffs bass solo. I also feel that I am my own person, and I will always be my own person. Well, there you have it. If James and Lars had persuaded him not to exercise his creative abilities on the album, Puppets would have been more mainstream, less extravagant, more digestible and less rewarding. The 10 last-gasp hair metal guitar albums that arrived before the grunge armageddon, The Lowlist: INXS's Kick was the sound of a rock band taking on modern technology. Just as he is with his frequent reliance on the minor pentatonic scale, though, Hammett is entirely unapologetic about his love of the effect. And you know, its amazing because weve done it in a way that we feel has been convincing. Ill tell you one thing that Covid did that I think was pretty important. Kirk Lee Hammett was born in San Francisco, California, on "I'm going on nine years sober pretty soon. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich in 1992. What Shows Have Been Renewed or Canceled? Although the vehicle wasnt moving particularly fast at the time, Cliff was ejected halfway through a window next to the bunk in which he was sleeping and crushed to death underneath the bus. Huge, huge, powerful stuff, man. Its a vindication. How did it make you feel? KH: Yes, and he has full support of his family, and thats great. SC: Yes. Ill go in, and Ill learn the solos, but Im going to change stuff all over the place according to how I feel in Amsterdam. The other guys kids are different from my kids. But the crowning achievement is always when were all in that room together, all the work is done, and then were playing the songs and executing in real-time, in the moment. I was mischievous. By 1986, Metallica were at the top of their game, creatively if not yet commercially. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Of course, in reality Cliff was on fire during the Puppets sessions, coming up with his masterpiece Orion and those two intricate song intros. I dont remember that. James [Hetfield] was like, Huh? Famous for his Misfits T-shirts and Samhain tattoo, as well as his commandeering of Metallicas tour bus stereo to play endless Discharge albums, Cliff brought a blend of incredible musical intricacy and malevolent, bludgeoning ugliness to the band, in his education of his fellow musicians as well as in his own bass playing. [recalling the Whenever you just fucking know that a piece of music Theres something here, and we can take this, you put it on the train and see where the train goes. That is super, super important too, and thats another reason why I think that we should just never stop because we bring meaning to peoples lives. In a preview clip, Hammett recalls seeing interest in Metallica seem to blow up overnight in San Francisco, going from a gig with 15 people to a packed house in 1982 or 1983 as the thrashers legend spread. In 2009, Joel McIvers book The 100 Biggest Metal Guitarists put Hammett at number 15. tvguidetime.com . Theres been times when the negative aspects have totally taken over me, and Ive spent a lot of time highlighting those negative aspects, but dont get me wrong. EAST RUTHERFORD -- Kirk Hammett wanted into Metallica -- and out of New York City. My dad drank a lot. As youre playing the leads, as youre playing that riff, will you draw off what created that riff, or will you draw off what the airs like in Amsterdam, what the airs like in Paris, how youre feeling in Hamburg? And I stayed positive, you know? I meditate at least an hour a day. In the end no-one really knew what had happened only that one of the most gifted musicians of a generation was dead. And I know that I'm not as unpredictable as I used to be. ! But I do have a ton of ideas. What was the emotional intention behind the solos and behind the playing? I got extremely affected by it. The initial break on this And Justice For All cornerstone shows Kirk had been paying attention, as he develops a simple theme into a masterful lead break. I will just withdraw from everyone and everything. So, I would get myself into trouble all the time, only because that was the energy that was in me. I can say, Okay, I can connect this music to this thread, and this piece of music came from this thread of emotion and energy that I was feeling. So, when I hear him singing about certain things, I get the sentiment. Kirk Hammett started playing the guitar when he was 15 years I had to sit down and take stock of my Hammett also discusses how Exodus frontman Paul Baloff recommended seeing the band live. We write songs that are fun to play because that's what we want to do. It's changed me. I can act like a fucking irresponsible, immature jerk asshole, but if Im holding the fucking riff for Enter Sandman, that riff is going to be the fucking priority. When it comes to James and I, mentally, were both challenged and sometimes were challenged in a similar way. SC: Youve got several pretty strong riffs on 72 Seasons. It feels honest, and it feels right, rather than picking up certain things here and there. I have focus, and I put myself in situations now that I know are positive and win-win situations, where it contributes to everyone elses well-being. SC: What would you say in terms of your playing right now? Rebecca Hammett (1982-1990) Kirk dated Rebecca Hammett for 6 years starting from 1982. And, if you can, reflect that off the man youve spent three-quarters of your life with? I dont want to live in the past I dont even know what the future is. KH: Frustration. Because when I'm up there, I'm having a really good time. It looks like youre having fun! In total, METALLICA performed 32 different songs taken from its 11 studio albums. In fact, my mom hated it when she found out I was thinking of becoming a musician. old man who said he "did it" with Lars's granddaughter. I repeat myself quite a bit, but thats intentional because I wanted there to be a vocabulary, my vocabulary Im going to use for this album and this album alone. We dont want to write songs that are a bummer to play. "I'm not as chaotic as I used to be. Kirk was born in San Francisco to a Filipino mother and an Irish Merchant Marine father. Matt is a Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He played on Exodus' 1982 Demo. They're my bros. We have an amazing fan base who understands us and then some. And really feel like during that time, every fucking note and every beat we were playing meant something. Thats part of the reason why Im doing this. He really exposed me and James to a whole new musical horizon of harmonies and melodies, just a whole new kind of thing, and obviously thats something that greatly influenced our song-writing abilities on Master Of Puppets the whole way that me and James write songs together, I mean, that was shaped when Cliff was in the band, and was very much shaped around Cliffs musical input; the way he really taught us about harmonies and melodies and stuff. James added: Cliff brought certain melodies into our music which hed learned at school during his classical training. The positives still outweigh the negatives, and I love what I do. Its really consistent because usually, the sentiment is very close to something Ive experienced or am experiencing. For me, being positive is picking up my guitar every day. I feel like I'm very well grounded. Just like, Uaaa, aah, aah, AAAH! And then afterward, go, Aaah, God, I feel so much better now.. And if so, how much of that do you think was down to the other two guys seeing what you and Rob did on those jams? Im a very spiritual person. I sit, and I read my intense awareness of the present moment, I open myself up, and something happens. Sarah (1992-1995) Kirk was romantically involved with a woman named Sarah for almost 3 years. Even though everyone in Alcoholica was known to enjoy It kind of sucks because you go online, and youll find three million people who claim to know what the future is. Nowadays bassists can be as experimental as you like, with Dream Theaters John Myung, Les Claypool of Primus, Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse and even Cliffs ultimate replacement Rob Trujillo (an accomplished funk player) all making their mark but a quarter of a century ago, nobody played heavy metal bass like Cliff Burton. So, whats the deal? KH: Ive spent literally years getting into these peoples guitar styles, their playing, and trying to get into their musical heads. And the answer is yes. The Damage Inc. tour has gone down in history as the best thrash metal bill ever assembled: both Metallica and Anthrax were on peak form, levelling audiences from Kansas in March to Sweden in September. KH: [Smiles broadly] I love what I do. And you know, it gets tiring being in that mode. While you watched in open-mouthed awe as Metallica pumped out their fast, violent music, the guy on the bass whipped his head up and down like few others had done at the time. In fact, it turns out he was just as curious about the guitar himself. It was some $200 guitar, which I admit doesnt really answer your question, Hammett revealed. Trivia Joined Meshuggah on stage This side [of the struggle toward success] is amazing. Its pure love. I will always be making music because thats my calling. Those are my 72 seasons, you know? This past week, METALLICA kicked off its "M72" world tour 2023-2024 with two performances at Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He said that hed just wait till they came back in style. I believed it then, and I believe it now, and yes, I'm having a great time up there because I'm playing guitar. Favorite Person - Kirk Hammett on August 7th, 2017 to celebrate the 5th annual Metallica Night, in which James and Kirk performed the 'Star Spangled Banner for the Well, not exactly. Probably. Otto pulls over and talks to them, and And I was exposed to this type of music from the time I was five or six years old. As a subscriber enjoy big savings off the shop price! And if you want me to be something else, it wont happen? Photograph: Ross Halfin We discovered cocaine years before, but we brought it to new heights on that tour, And everything that has anything to do with me begins with me and ends with me. Growing up in the early 70s, there was so much of that music everywhere in the Bay Area and on the radio. Youre enjoying being a rock star. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In a new interview with the METALLICA fan-club magazine So What!, guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke about his enduring passion for playing music and performing for the band's fans. It is a huge acknowledgment. Favorite Person - Kirk Hammett on August 7th, 2017 to celebrate the 5th annual Metallica Night, in which James and Kirk performed the 'Star Spangled Banner for the San Francisco Giants game - Other people in the band got extremely affected by it. SC: Its interesting because and weve talked about this this band is made up of immovable pillars and fluid rivers. It was a mixture of two or three sets that they made back in the day. Youre a guitar player whos already respected within the genre, but now youve got these titans coming up and sharing their admiration. for granted that it's always going to be there. But it just so happens that hes listening a lot more than I ever realized. (Mustaine, in turn, founded Megadeth.) SC: Thats pretty exciting for people coming to these shows because theyre going to get what youre feeling at that moment. SC: What have you learned in the last year about your playing and playing in general thats been a self-revelation? A few months later, they opened for Metallica and another group called Laaz Rockit on a Monday night, and Metallica drew a huge crowd that left without seeing the headliner. KH: Well, Ive gotten better in just expressing myself, talking about my feelings, not being shy about my feelings my biggest thing is withdrawal. Even talking now as we are, Ive never heard you speak with the fluidity and assuredness to express it as you are now. (And again, looking damn fine doing so.). The most head-banging bassist I ever saw, is how Lars described Cliff Burton the first time he saw him play live, and James explained later that Cliff often had back problems due to the frantic, hunched-over moshing that he executed on stage. 2. I have the capacity to do that. Kirk Hammett, of San Francisco thrashers Exodus, stepped in on guitar and looked the part, all skinny trousers and Venom T-shirts but McGovneys replacement was anything but your standard 1983-style banger. Or why not treat yourself? James in particular had developed a rhythm guitar technique which was millisecond-accurate, perfectly complementing Cliffs crazy bass playing and allowing it plenty of breathing space. So, I turned to my partner in crime, Rob Trujillo. Its going to be a surprise to me, and I think thats a beautiful thing, rather than getting a pre-packaged thing that you just know whats going happen. Hed written a piece called (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth, a solo that lasted over five minutes in length that normally came just before the bands anthem, Whiplash.