Kirk Hammett

Latest about Kirk Hammett

Kirk Hammett shreds his ESP Mummy onstage in Vienna, Austria
Kirk Hammett on why bad solos are dying – and dealing with armchair guitar critics

By Jonathan Horsley Published

Towards the end of 2023, we caught up with Metallica's affable lead guitarist to take stock of one of the greatest years in the Bay Area metal behemoth's history, and to talk guitars, songwriting and gear

Guitarists
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs on stage at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on July 14, 2024 in Madrid, Spain
Metallica are currently touring with 64 guitars – and 36 need to be ready to go at any given moment

By Phil Weller Published

The huge arsenal of guitars and basses is part of a mammoth production that includes 6,000 guitar picks that are needed to make each night a success

Guitarists
Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs on stage at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on July 14, 2024 in Madrid, Spain
Kirk Hammett doesn't pay attention to solo trolls – and thinks “bad” solos are a thing of the past

By Matt Owen Published

The Metallica guitarist's lead effort in Lux Æterna came under intense fire from online commenters upon its release, with some even recording their own 'improved' versions

Guitarists
ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett
“The perfect weapon to seek and destroy”: ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett review

By Amit Sharma Published

The latest signature model for the Metallica guitarist is a lot pointier than his previous offering – and the tones match the looks

Electric Guitars
Left - Guitarist Bill Kelliher of Mastodon performs on stage during the Hellfest Open Air Festival on June 17, 2022 in Clisson, France;Right - Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield of the band Metallica perform at the 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on March 20, 2024 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft

By Janelle Borg Published

Mastodon's Bill Kelliher also credits Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for changing his previously nonchalant attitude to warming up before a show

Guitarists
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett
Ride the Lightning at 40! Kirk Hammett on Satch’s influence and Cliff Burton’s dual harmonies

By Andrew Daly Published

Master of Puppets gets all the attention, but it was Ride the Lightning that made the metal legends sound heavier, more epic, and musically more audacious

Guitarists
Mdou Moctar playing his left-handed Fender Strat at Coachella 2024
Mdou Moctar finds a new fan in Metallica’s Kirk Hammett

By Janelle Borg Published

The Tuareg guitarist’s latest album continues to expand the horizons of contemporary rock

Guitarists
Kirk Hammett and Brian May
“It’s like Brian May walked over to his tone booth and just turned it up to 11!” Kirk Hammett names his favorite Queen song – and it’s a seriously deep cut

By Jonathan Horsley Published

Metallica may have covered Stone Cold Crazy, but that’s not Hammett’s no. 1…

Music Releases
Gibson Custom Shop Kirk Hammett 1989 Les Paul Custom
“Artfully aged by the Murphy Lab to match the look and feel of Kirk’s original”: Gibson’s Custom Shop takes on Kirk Hammett’s mod-heavy, “blacked-out” 1989 Les Paul Custom – and it’s safe to say it’s nothing like Greeny...

By Matt Parker Published

The Metallica guitar god debuts his latest signature Les Paul – and it’s a little different to his other recent custom shop build...

Electric Guitars
Kirk Hammett with his Epiphone Flying V
“It was a huge risk – to this day I’m wondering if I pulled it off or not. But it was how I felt inside. I didn’t want picture-perfect solos”: Kirk Hammett reflects on his all-improv lead approach – and explains why he doesn’t sweat onstage mistakes

By Jonathan Horsley Published

Kirk Hammett looks back on a landmark year in Metallica, reveals how Joe Bonamassa helped him snag one of the rarest Les Pauls ever made, and explains what caused him to mess up the intro to Nothing Else Matters – and why it doesn’t matter

Guitarists
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