<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar World in Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/tag/metallica Fri, 08 May 2026 15:01:07 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “If I didn’t get some kind of help, I was going to die. So I said, ‘You guys, can I have a minute? Please give me a minute.’ And they said, ‘No’”: Jason Newsted explains how addiction struggles led to his Metallica departure ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/jason-newsted-on-his-addiciton-struggles-and-metallica-exit cxe8cmSqAtLn8adMW9zbUW Fri, 08 May 2026 15:01:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Their first record was very different from the record they made after they met me and the guys in Metallica”: Dave Mustaine on the influence he had on the Big Four of thrash metal ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-mustaine-on-the-influence-he-had-on-the-big-four-of-thrash-metal itdkNreHfJ6PjJyMqcfqaa Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:23:15 +0000 <![CDATA[ “After his funeral, me and my buddy snuck into his house and took the guitar”: Pepper Keenan got his first guitar after a tragic accident ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/how-pepper-keenan-got-his-first-ever-guitar-from-his-dead-friend F2gJUTN7d2gbj4En72rrMR Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:02:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can still see them shaking their heads. I knew I’d lost the gig right there”: Pepper Keenan recalls the moment he knew he’d failed his audition to be Metallica’s bassist ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/pepper-keenan-failed-metallica-audition BpeDvqp7ffgWE5usvMsS7b Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:20:13 +0000 Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:41:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We played a song or two, and I said, ‘Hey, you guys want to jam on some Isley Brothers?’ Nobody laughed”: Les Claypool looks back on his disastrous Metallica audition ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/les-claypool-looks-back-on-his-disastrous-metallica-audition f7RKEZ5SwQ8N4nsS2DexF9 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:27:22 +0000 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:46:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “All of the guys in Metallica, except for the guitar player, told me what a great guitar player I was”: Candlebox guitarist on touring with Metallica and Aerosmith in the early ’90s – and receiving the ultimate praise from his heroes ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/candlebox-guitarist-peter-klett-on-touring-with-aerosmith-and-metallica CpxkZArCzHvfVQLGud3bje Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:09:30 +0000 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:19:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I can put them in every guitar, and it’s gonna sound exactly like I need it to”: Metallica has rolled out something special to help celebrate 50 years of EMG ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitar-pickups/metallica-2026-limited-edition-pickups 6guVnd8YDZMt4fDAjNVS3Z Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:50:01 +0000 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:55:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Ed was under the same pressure we all were. You can play your old gear, but it sounds old”: Billy Corgan on what drives guitar heroes to change their tone – and how it led him to package his sound in a pedal ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/billy-corgan-smashing-pumpkins-laney-supergrace-guitar-tone-journey sin4xAcceGSS9gyQaxYkZT Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:20:00 +0000 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:28:03 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One day, my mom went to Costco and was like, ‘They’ve got these guitars on sale. Let’s get it for your dad’”: Kiki Wong on how a cheap Yamaha and a Metallica classic changed her musical trajectory ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/kiki-wong-on-how-a-cheap-yamaha-and-metallica-changed-her-whole-musical-trajectory napGEzicmtwkeJSYiiiaML Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:04:54 +0000 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:21:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “12 seconds into the opening night with U2, I thought, ‘We have to do this’”: Metallica announces Sphere residency – and they’ll be spared from the issues all other guitar bands have faced so far ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/concerts-gigs-tours/metallica-announces-sphere-residency ZRBpzfj7ptbGKbjvvn8DJR Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:06:18 +0000 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:05:03 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I wanted to pay my respects to James Hetfield, who I think is an amazing guitar player, and Lars Ulrich, who was an excellent songwriter”: Dave Mustaine breaks down Megadeth’s final album, track by track – and why he paid tribute to Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-mustaine-track-by-track-guide-to-megadeth-final-album 8G6qjWAEJTDeijstyrihAC Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:25:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He told him to keep playing and never stop”: The heartwarming moment James Hetfield met a 10-year-old superfan ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/james-hetfield-meets-10-year-old-superfan-jacob-k EPWFPp9ygBWhbmRBEWe4HT Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:01:37 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He took offense to that and we hung up, and I don't remember speaking to him since then”: Ahead of Megadeth's final album, Dave Mustaine sets the record straight on why he and James Hetfield don’t talk anymore ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bands/dave-mustaine-on-why-he-and-james-hetfield-do-not-talk-anymore TWn52ToDvANdiin8n6jRtc Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:27:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “For James Hetfield fans, this guitar is a no-brainer”: Epiphone Explorer 80s EMG review ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/epiphone-explorer-80s-emg-review QzyKpE8iLBz34LRBi7BhNf Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:48:57 +0000 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:35:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Honors Cliff Burton’s groundbreaking tone and legacy”: Aria marks 40 years since Metallica bassist Cliff Burton's passing by reissuing his posthumous signature bass ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/bass-guitars/aria-cliff-burton-bass-reissue 3zySub7BCWjYGkhmsG8RG4 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:03:16 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:12:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, ‘Man, where’s my audition?’ They said, ‘You got the gig.’ So I got my job just by warming up”: How Dave Mustaine landed the gig with Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/how-dave-mustaine-landed-the-gig-with-metallica 2ygy64U7vFGZwdGvZ5Ffrb Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:31:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Kirk Hammett’s in front of me with a guitar trying to teach me stuff. They’re like, ‘Get your stuff. You’re flying on the private jet with us’”: Daron Malakian on the time he saved a Metallica gig – and ended up filling in for an injured James Hetfield ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/daron-malakians-metallica-cameo mnDBLXPDNNztNKA8RgFnZA Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:16:44 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m not leaving things unfinished”: Dave Mustaine reveals the life-changing hand condition behind his decision to retire Megadeth ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-mustaine-reveals-the-hand-condition-behind-megadeth-retirement CB46BVHPwqiGdLdSphiM5d Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:35:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We were kind of forced to come up with asolution for playing a show in Antarctica where we couldn’t have speakers”: Why did the world’s biggest metal band switch to amp modelers? ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/amps/why-metallica-ditched-tube-amps-and-embraced-amp-modelers-for-their-live-show oaGUJ6csgfyqpWvUryDzHT Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He said, ‘Have you heard Metallica’s version of Whiskey in the Jar?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘What planet are you living on?’” Thin Lizzy’s Eric Bell on reinventing an old Irish standard as a rock track and performing it with the “cartoon” Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/eric-bell-on-thin-lizzy-whiskey-in-the-jar DugirkKCgTyCmptTsocFt8 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:35:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “When I finished, I sent Kirk Hammett a picture and said, ‘Do you want to use it?’ He replied in all caps, ‘YES!’” Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian has spent 4 years learning how to build guitars – and his prized SG was played at metal’s most historic concert ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/cesar-gueikian-ceo-4-kirk-hammett-back-to-the-beginning-auction-feature hyAAGWmWT4nws2fCxpk9fT Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:54:42 +0000 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:17:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “These are the tracks people dream of being able to pick up and play”: New study names the most inspiring bands for aspiring guitarists – and The Beatles have been beaten to top spot ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarguitar-study-reveals-the-most-inspiring-artists-for-aspiring-guitarists A2S2X4soqhPQ7r7xenWDjX Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:38:05 +0000 Tue, 18 Nov 2025 16:14:32 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We built 19 different models. He more or less changed what we were doing”: EMG founder on why this Metallica guitarist’s pickup set was the most challenging he’s ever made ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitar-pickups/emgs-rob-turner-on-the-hardest-pickups-hes-ever-had-to-make ebrWDNrSZDJXXn5sjTkALE Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:04:03 +0000 Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:59:30 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If that's not done properly, then the guitar won’t be playable”: The hardest part of building a Gibson guitar from scratch, according to CEO Cesar Gueikian ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/the-hardest-part-of-building-a-gibson-guitar-according-to-ceo-cesar-gueikian 8X7bk4z3TWKmCpsVNWpWPb Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:31:19 +0000 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:13:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Jim Carrey stormed the stage mid-song to air guitar his right leg like a maniac”: From David Bowie going rogue to George Harrison x Paul Simon, EVH and SRV – the 50 greatest guitar moments in SNL history ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/top-50-snl-guitar-moments 74hqPhFYSyE35ewqdBsEUD Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:53:19 +0000 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:13:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ “No, that doesn’t sound right”: Robert Trujillo gatecrashes group Enter Sandman lesson at Guitar Center ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/robert-trujillo-gatecrashes-enter-sandman-guitar-lesson-at-guitar-center LoJbDfhALVfPDAzpZvMA8k Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:34:11 +0000 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:03:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Let’s hop to it”: James Hetfield wins Halloween by donning inflatable kangaroo costume to rip through a thrash classic – and he doesn’t miss a beat ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/james-hetfield-plays-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-dressed-as-a-kangaroo z47j8xZky43j7uf8cXx4Kc Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:53:59 +0000 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:45:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was about completing the circle and us showing what James and I as guitar players did to change the world”: Dave Mustaine reveals why Megadeth are covering Metallica on their final album ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/dave-mustaine-on-why-megadeth-are-covering-metallica-ride-the-lightning LaYFqyKWesyxsaAt2oH6ZQ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 16:53:14 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:35:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Instruments that shaped metal forever”: The mystery Gibson SG Kirk Hammett played at Ozzy Osbourne’s last show is heading to auction – along with more than 150 other guitars from his collection ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/kirk-hammett-guitar-auction-november-2025 CLvxahKEdyvcBepsTbea67 Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:26:15 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:28:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ “ESP asked me to pyrograph James Hetfield’s Explorer. I wasn’t sure who James was, but I said yes”: Meet Dino Muradian, the pyrographer who makes a living burning artwork into stars’ guitars ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitars/dino-muradian-pyrographed-guitars WciNbfQaFpb9UW6oz65QDG Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:42:57 +0000 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:45:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Josh Homme said, ‘Do you want to come over?’ I was like, ‘So, you want to do Kyuss, but no John Garcia?' I’m good.’ I was bitter, I guess": Scott Reeder on the last days of Kyuss, QOTSA and what he told James Hetfield after that Metallica audition ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/scott-reeder-spinal-tap-tribute gsfg27KS4HCH4vhhtC4Aa5 Fri, 10 Oct 2025 13:48:29 +0000 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:38:56 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I was outside shoveling some moldy hay into a wheelbarrow, and my wife comes out holding the phone. She thought it was a prank call”: Scott Reeder on the time he auditioned for Metallica – after Lars Ulrich cold-called him ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/scott-reeder-on-his-metallica-audition sAoTeuMQF62oX7PjgeUhgi Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:00:54 +0000 Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:14:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Theory C: it’s a scoop knob... they built James’ parametric EQ into the amp”: Metallica spark a Mesa/Boogie mystery as unidentified amp spotted in 50th Anniversary message to ESP Guitars. Could this be a James Hetfield signature? ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/amps/metallica-kirk-hammett-and-james-hetfield-reveal-mystery-mesa-boogie-amp-in-esp-guitars-shout-out 9Sn2itjoxTFfnBPasuyGjJ Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:50:41 +0000 Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:42:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Metallica is nearly equal to Ozzy in terms of the respect factor – not all the way, but nearly”: When Jason Newsted swapped bands with Robert Trujillo ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/jason-newsted-swapped-bands-with-robert-trujillo QKUHsuSJy7NrUGpcKCJhcT Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:35:00 +0000 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:57:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Recreating this piece of metal history wasn’t just a challenge, it was a privilege”: Jason Momoa orders super-gnarly replica of James Hetfield’s iconic Elektra OGV – and this Polish luthier recreated every last detail ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/jason-momoa-krupi-guitars-replica-of-metallica-james-hetfield-elektra-ogv-flying-v-copy YkQZ7gkMNiFjNnKrL7x9yH Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:45:08 +0000 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:59:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Hetfield personally hooked me up with them back in the day. I’m not cheating on anyone. I want all the instruments!” Gojira’s Joe Duplantier explains how he started playing ESP guitars – and why he’s still playing Charvels ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/joe-duplantier-how-he-started-playing-esp-guitars zxzN6heqwYdMhBidX8WQAG Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:30:31 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:55:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The idea is Kirk was gonna play rhythms along with James. That changed everything, and some people don’t like it”: Bob Rock says Metallica's divisive Load album redefined the Hetfield-Hammett guitar partnership ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/bob-rock-explains-how-load-changed-metallica-as-guitar-players QmFqFhWxokhyVJ7QemESjW Tue, 05 Aug 2025 08:39:04 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:37:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “One of the rarest and most coveted vintage amplifiers ever”: Mesa/Boogie’s hallowed Mark IIC++ was used by Metallica to shape the sound of 1980s metal – and now it’s been given a production release for the first time ever ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/guitar-amp-heads/mesa-boogie-mark-ii-c-plus-plus cLgPfMWRRLN5w9oT8f3HMj Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:11:33 +0000 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:16:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m just like, ‘Oh my God. This is a compliment and a diss at the same time from Kirk Hammett!’” Tim Henson addresses Kirk Hammett’s mixed response to his ‘boomer bends’ comments ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/tim-henson-responds-to-kirk-hammett-boomer-bends JB8WCs9r3MYd2VrQ7WQqX6 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 10:59:42 +0000 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:02:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Cliff played guitar as well as bass – I picked up a few things from him that ended up on Master of Puppets”: Before Robert Trujillo and Jason Newsted, Cliff Burton set the musical bar for Metallica and established an indelible legacy ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/cliff-burton-set-the-musical-bar-for-metallica uLKivCtqpyQybjnSPfVcg Sat, 12 Jul 2025 18:38:00 +0000 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:25:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ “EET PHO”: Wes Borland cosplays as an ’80s-era James Hetfield while opening for Metallica – complete with a custom troll guitar ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/wes-borland-cosplays-as-james-hetfield-while-supporting-metallica YpWMUdAVLPsX6G3nC3BwTj Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:12:47 +0000 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 11:37:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It’s become a bad habit. I bought a 1955 Tele and turned it over to carve my initials into the back. My friend screamed, ’Don’t do that!’” Kirk Hammett on his favorite Metallica solo and tone – and his most prized purchases from other guitar heroes ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/kirk-hammett-guitar-collection-book Pu9jmwEByGEm5vze758Mr3 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:27:51 +0000 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 10:01:03 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There’s an art to simplicity, and Jason Newsted brought that art. Cliff Burton was more aggressive, and a busier player”: The bassists of Metallica ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/metallica-bassists RFsynq5NQpm4B6jfE3KXb4 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:52:29 +0000 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:34:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “They’re basically Les Paul copies, let’s be frank. It’s a Les Paul-style guitar and I already have amazing Les Pauls”: Kirk Hammett owns over 100 guitars but none of them are PRS. He explains why ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/why-kirk-hammett-doesnt-play-prs mjL7gSPyui5Fn7FmZGxB5a Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:35:46 +0000 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:23:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Is he gonna call Eddie Van Halen a boomer?” Kirk Hammett weighs in on Tim Henson and the boomer bends controversy ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/is-he-gonna-call-eddie-van-halen-a-boomer-kirk-hammett-weighs-in-on-tim-henson-and-the-boomer-bends-controversy rdCa6efaVvTJ9JnZzFJTon Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:31:50 +0000 Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:01:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If I’m really, really honest with myself, it’s probably my second-best-sounding guitar”: Greeny will always be Kirk Hammett’s pride and joy. But this uber-rare 1959 Gibson ES-335 is a close second – and it has a surprising history ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/kirk-hammett-1959-gibson-es-335 Ka25eJt8WkYtL52eri9XoB Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:29:23 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He took a bass to Jason Newsted. James kept flipping it back and forth, studying it… Then he asked if we could meet”: How Ken Lawrence came to build some of James Hetfield’s most iconic guitars – including one using wood from Metallica’s former home ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/ken-lawrence-james-hetfield-guitars r4mNo2mXS2WLj7Jd8KnHpR Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:26:52 +0000 Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:16:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We kind of dug it, but a lot of places didn’t like Metallica. They were like, ‘What the hell is this?’” When Metallica hit the road for their first national tour, crowds weren’t convinced by their music ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/raven-on-touring-with-metallica-in-1983 DbXNDeu32UzxGM7FDNWhTU Fri, 14 Feb 2025 17:15:41 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:13:26 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I auditioned for a guitar commission with a carload of basses! I laid them all out on the floor, and he went, ‘OK, let's make a guitar’”: James Hetfield's luthier on how he went from crafting basses to becoming the Metallica guitarist's go-to axe maker ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/ken-lawrence-on-how-he-went-from-crafting-basses-to-becoming-james-hetfield-go-to-axe-maker U4gePFYRrerBAet2yLejMH Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:15:47 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:04:50 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I don’t think Metallica wants to say I am an original member”: Why Metallica’s forgotten guitarist believes he isn’t considered the heavy metal legends’ OG guitar player ]]> https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/lloyd-grant-original-metallica-guitarist JT64MTXVG86WiUi7hpGu39 Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:44:08 +0000 Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:48:15 +0000