Kirk Hammett is an indispensable part of the Metallica movement

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

American virtuoso guitarist, actor and producer, composer and songwriter… Delving into the biography of Kirk Hammett, we can say that the life of this man is interesting and multifaceted. The history of the guitarist, due to his great fame, has not been shrouded in mystery for a long time and is freely available to Metallica connoisseurs.

How did it all start?

November 18, 1962 was born an ordinary boy in the family of an Irish sailor and a Filipina. The family lived in California, in San Francisco. His full name is Kirk Lee Hammett. The future father of heavy metal went to Richmond High School, was the middle child in the family. The older brother had a small collection of music that interested little Kirk.

Inspired by the records of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and most of all Jimi Hendrix, the boy decided to seriously take up the guitar. He bought the very first one at the age of 15, for which he worked part-time in a diner. So, thanks to his brother's hobbies and early interest in music, his creative path began.

Breakthrough on stage

The first step to success was the founding of the group Exodus. Together withdrummer Tom Hunting, equally popular on the current metal scene, and vocalist Paul Baloff, who died in 2002, Kirk was one of the progenitors of the thrash metal genre.

The new direction demanded high technique and an aggressive sound, which Kirk Hammett as a guitarist fully matched. He practiced tremolo, "gallops", high-speed mediator playing techniques. As part of Exodus, Kirk appeared on a 1982 demo recording, leaving his mark on the development of another successful group in this genre.

Kirk Hammett meets Metallica

The background was the dismissal of the previous guitarist. It was the infamous Dave Mustaine, a technical, talented musician with a complex character. The reason for the "expulsion" was an excessive addiction to drugs and frequent quarrels with other members of the group.

Being on the tour bus with Dave, Metallica's founding members, frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, listened to recordings of candidates to replace him. At the same time, they performed side by side with Exodus in clubs in San Francisco.

So they managed to reach Kirk Hammett. On April 1, a call came from the guys in his apartment, more like an April Fool's prank. He was immediately offered a place as a solo guitarist, while on tour, it was impossible to hesitate. At that time, the late bassist Cliff Burton was also in the band. Officially becoming a member of the band, Kirk, as part of Metallica, took to the stages of venues in nearby states.

Quality newlevel

Metallica picked up steam, recorded a demo tape and debut album. A few solos remained on the Kill 'em all record under the authorship of a new guitarist. It was during this time that he took lessons from the virtuoso Joe Satriani, who gave Kirk the basics of Hendrix-style melodic playing. Commenting on the song Seek and destroy, the musician states: "His influence on my playing was huge… When it came time to play this solo, I always hoped that Joe would like my performance."

On subsequent releases, Kirk Hammett increasingly revealed himself as a composer. He owns the riffs and solos of the main "fighters" of the group: Master of Puppets, One, Harvester of Sorrow. The most famous work was the introduction of the song Enter Sandman - the band's calling card to this day.

To date, Hammett has released 10 studio albums with Metallica, being a permanent member for 34 years. And he himself has repeatedly stated that he does not intend to stop. As long as the band is functioning, he has no intention of leaving the metal scene.

Facts from personal life, beyond music

Among the broad interests: surfing, cars, cooking, history, etc. Horror films stand out most clearly. The humble musician has a huge collection of horror movies and comics. According to Kirk himself, horror has attracted him since childhood and serves as a kind of inspiration for creativity. Such a way to relax and unload the brain.

Favorite performers were and still are: Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani (whom Hammett rightfully considers hismentor), Deep Purple, Santana and other classics of the genre. It is known that Kirk is a staunch vegetarian. He suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is paradoxical in his ardent passion for horror. It is no secret that he used drugs in his youth, but for a very short time.

He was married twice: three years of marriage with a girl named Rebecca (broken in 1990), from 1998 to the present he lives with his wife Lani. In his second marriage, he became the father of two sons - Angel and Enzo.

Used equipment

Guitar is a musician's bread. Hammett's first instrument was the Fender Stratocaster. Now the 54-year-old guitarist has a whole collection in his piggy bank, including Gibson, Jackson models and favorite ESP guitars. Many of them are named, and the most famous signature is LTD KH-WZ White Zombie.

Has a contract with Randall Amplifiers, which offered to release a signature line of guitar amplifiers, amps and preamps. Throughout his studio career, Kirk has used Marshall and Mesa/Boogie cabinets, which he still prefers.

Decades later, guitarist Kirk Hammett continues to hold the backbone of the most famous metal band Metallica. The team collects stadiums, periodically meets in the studio. On every album, fans hear the songwriting and performing talent of the good-natured California guy.