Kirk Hammett Reflects On His Career In Metallica

Name: Kirk Hammett Reflects On His Career In Metallica
Uploaded: 2023-08-17T22:22:50.000Z
Duration: 3 h 26 min 45 s

Interview with Kirk Hammett

In this interview, the renowned guitarist Kirk Hammett discusses his journey from joining Metallica in 1983 to their recent performances at MetLife Stadium. He reflects on the band's early days, experiences in New York City, and the transgenerational appeal of Metallica's music.

Early Days with Metallica

Kirk reflects on Metallica's humble beginnings in 1981 with a slow start in LA before gaining momentum after moving to the Bay Area and recruiting Clifford.

Upon joining the band in New York, Kirk vividly describes his initial shock and cultural differences coming from San Francisco.

Evolution of Metallica's Career

Kirk highlights the band's journey from playing small clubs in Jersey to headlining at MetLife Stadium, emphasizing New York's support throughout their career.

He expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share their music with diverse audiences spanning different generations.

Transgenerational Appeal of Music

Kirk notes the diverse age range of fans at concerts, attributing it to Metallica's transgenerational appeal similar to classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin.

Reflecting on "Master of Puppets," he acknowledges its musical maturity despite recording it at a young age, emphasizing how their music resonates across generations.

Influences and Musical Background

Metallica's Musical Evolution

In this segment, James Hetfield discusses Metallica's musical influences and the creative process behind their iconic album "Master of Puppets."

Influences and Creative Process

Hetfield mentions that Metallica's sound was influenced by British and American hard rock, garage rock, and punk rock.

The band's musical evolution was instinctual rather than based on strict rules or regulations.

Metallica always aimed to try different things creatively, even if some experiments failed commercially but succeeded artistically.

Hetfield emphasizes the importance of having diverse albums in a catalog to avoid monotony and provide contrast for listeners.

He highlights the significance of challenging fans with new sounds and directions in music to maintain interest.

Creativity and Collaboration in Music Making

James Hetfield delves into the creative process within Metallica, emphasizing experimentation, collaboration, and individual contributions.

Experimentation and Collaboration

Creating music for Metallica involves a balance between instinctual creativity and a willingness to try new things.

The band aims to produce unique music that reflects each member's personality, technique, instincts, and creativity.

Hetfield shares his approach to presenting new ideas to the band members while acknowledging the abundance of ideas within Metallica.

Despite having numerous ideas, selecting the best ones for consideration is crucial for maintaining quality in songwriting.

When sharing ideas with the band, starting with what he considers lesser riffs first helps build momentum towards stronger compositions.

Perspective in Music Creation

James Hetfield discusses seeking external perspectives in music creation to enhance creativity and overcome personal biases.

Seeking Perspectives

Relying on others' perspectives is essential as it provides valuable insights that may not align with one's initial instincts.

Differentiating between personal truths and resonating with others' perspectives is crucial for artistic growth.

Gear Used in Early Recordings

James Hetfield talks about the gear used during Metallica's early recordings.

Gear Used

Meeting the Amps in Mexico

The speaker recalls a trip to Mexico where they discovered new amps that became integral to their sound.

Discovering New Amps

Visited Mexico for amp endorsement, offered two for one deal.

Discovered Mark II C plus heads with three gain stages and EQ, perfect match with EMG pickups.

Used Mesa Boogie amps on the Ride the Lightning tour, learning to dial them in.

Evolution of Pedal Rig and Sound Preferences

The speaker discusses their pedal rig preferences and sound choices over time.

Pedal Rig and Sound Evolution

Always used a wah and tube screamer since age 15, minimal use of delay or reverb.

Experimented briefly with delay but preferred playing without it for a more authentic feel.

Sound Sculpting with Tube Screamer

Delving into the importance of tight rhythm sounds and using distortion pedals selectively.

Distortion and Rhythm Sounds

Tube screamer used mainly for leads, emphasizing tightness in rhythm sounds.

Focus on harmonically tight frequencies for balanced sound sculpting.

Balancing Distortion for Impactful Sound

Exploring the balance between distortion levels for impactful playing experience.

Impactful Distortion Levels

Prefers cleaner rhythm sound for distinct string articulation and impact.

Emphasizes the need for punch and clarity over excessive distortion levels.

Musical Influences and Playing Styles

Reflecting on shared musical influences, playing styles, and mutual learning experiences.

Musical Influences and Playing Styles

Shared musical influences include bands like Sabbath, UFO, Aerosmith, Kiss, Van Halen, Judas Priest.

Music Influences and Inspirations

In this section, Kirk Hammett discusses the impact of different techniques on sound quality and reminisces about his interactions with Johnny Ramone.

Techniques for Sound Quality

Hammett emphasizes the importance of upstrokes in adding high-end notes first for a fuller sound.

Placing the palm close to the saddles while playing is highlighted as crucial for achieving desired sound effects.

Influence of Johnny Ramone

Hammett recalls his friendship with Johnny Ramone, describing him as a funny and divisive character.

Johnny Ramone's preference for downstrokes in guitar picking is noted as influential in creating a unique style.

Exploration of Musical Creativity

Kirk Hammett delves into the creative process behind Metallica's music, reflecting on unconventional riffs and influences that shaped their distinctive sound.

Unconventional Riffs

Discusses how certain riffs like "Leper Messiah" initially seemed strange but evolved into enjoyable challenges due to their uniqueness.

Mentions the sideways riff in "And Justice for All," highlighting its complexity and appeal to guitarists.

Progressive Elements in Metallica's Music

The conversation shifts towards Metallica's progressive elements, exploring their experimentation with time signatures and musical boundaries.

Progressive Experimentation

Metallica's exploration of different time signatures during the "Master of Puppets" era is credited with enhancing song dynamics.

The band's approach to mixing up songs through varied time signatures reflects a period of musical complexity in 1988.

Jazz Influence on Musical Style

Kirk Hammett reflects on his early exposure to jazz music and its influence on his guitar playing style and improvisational approach.

Jazz Inspiration

Recalls childhood exposure to jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, shaping his appreciation for saxophone-like qualities in guitar playing.

Expresses admiration for jazz icons such as John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, highlighting their impact on his musical preferences.

The Art of Improvisation

The discussion centers around the allure of improvisation in music, emphasizing spontaneity and embracing uncertainty during performances.

Embracing Spontaneity

s Emphasizes love for improvisational aspects of jazz music, relishing surprises during performances.

Music Creation Process

In this section, the speaker discusses his approach to music creation, emphasizing the importance of spontaneity and collaboration in the creative process.

Embracing Spontaneity

The speaker highlights the shift from playing set solos to embracing improvisation during live performances.

Emphasizes the significance of being a vessel for music to flow through by tapping into the unknown without overthinking.

Collaborative Creativity

Describes a collaborative music creation experience in Hawaii where spontaneity led to new instrumentals within minutes.

Stresses the discipline required to reach a point of spontaneous creativity and how the best ideas often emerge in the moment.

Importance of Collaboration

Discusses how collaboration can transform initial ideas into something greater by offering diverse perspectives.

Meeting with Producer and Studio Dynamics

In this section, the discussion revolves around the role of a producer in providing feedback and guidance during studio sessions, emphasizing the importance of constructive criticism and different dynamics within a studio setting.

Producer's Role in the Studio

The producer acts as a crucial figure in the studio, offering suggestions for improvement without the band having to play good cop/bad cop roles.

Working with Bob Rock on the Black Album

Collaboration with Bob Rock involved focusing on groove-oriented, swing-infused shorter songs for the Black Album.

Emphasis on Swing and Groove

The Black Album aimed for a distinct swing and groove, drawing inspiration from British rockers like AC/DC and ZZ Top.

Innovative Sound Blending Techniques

This segment delves into the innovative sound blending techniques employed during the production of Metallica's Black Album, highlighting the use of multiple amps to create a unique rhythm sound.

Amp Blending Process

Working with Bob Rock introduced new techniques such as blending amps to achieve desired sounds.

Diverse Amp Selection

Utilizing six or seven different amps for rhythm sounds and three or four amps for lead sounds, including unexpected choices like blackface Fenders and Matchless Black Cat.

Impact of Guitar Playing on Personal Journey

This part focuses on how guitar playing served as a transformative force in shaping personal growth and providing direction amidst challenging circumstances.

Guitar as a Calming Influence

Growing up in a turbulent environment, playing guitar became a source of solace, grounding, purpose, and joy.

Music as Life-saving Passion

Exploring the Story of Greeny Guitar

In this section, the speaker delves into the history and significance of a guitar named Greeny, exploring its origins and impact on music.

The Origin of Greeny

Greeny is a 1959 Les Paul bought in London by Peter Green in the mid-1960s after replacing Eric Clapton in Blues Breakers.

The guitar's pickup was damaged, repaired by Sam Lee with incorrect wiring that unintentionally altered its sound.

Unique Sound Characteristics

Due to the reversed pickup and wiring, Greeny produced a thick out-of-phase sound uncommon for Les Paul guitars.

Despite being a Les Paul, when turned up, it resembled a strat with a 100-watt Marshall sound.

Influence on Music

Peter Green used Greeny to form Fleetwood Mac and record hits like "Black Magic Woman" and "Albatross."

Fleetwood Mac gained popularity as a blues-rock band during tours in America, showcasing Peter Green's exceptional playing.

The Journey of Greeny Guitar Ownership

This segment narrates the ownership journey of the iconic guitar known as Greeny from Peter Green to Gary Moore.

Transition of Ownership

In 1970, due to personal struggles, Peter Green quit Fleetwood Mac and sold Greeny to Gary Moore for an SG and cash.

Gary Moore cherished the guitar for over three decades, featuring it prominently in his albums like "Still Got The Blues."

Attempted Sale

After Gary Moore's ownership, an unsuccessful attempt was made to sell Greeny for two million dollars before reducing the price without success.

Rediscovery and Impact of Owning Greeny Guitar

This part discusses how the speaker rediscovered and experienced profound musical inspiration through owning and playing the legendary guitar known as Greeny.

Rediscovery Experience

Despite initial skepticism about its value, upon playing it firsthand in 2014, the speaker was captivated by its unique tonal capabilities.

Musical Inspiration

Interview Insights

In this section, the speaker recounts an incident involving a guitar magazine stack falling and causing a crack in his guitar. This event leads to emotional reactions and discussions with a technician about repairing the damage.

Guitar Incident and Emotional Reaction

The speaker describes how a stack of guitar magazines fell off a desk, causing a crack in his guitar.

Despite the damage being visible for days, the speaker admits to breaking down emotionally upon discovering it.

The speaker contacts his technician, Justin, who advises him to consult Gary Brower for repairs due to his expertise in guitar setups and repairs.

Repair Insights

This part delves into the repair process of the damaged guitar, highlighting insights from Gary Brower on handling open cracks and advancements in wood glues over the years.

Repair Process Discussion

Gary Brower explains that open cracks are beneficial for applying glue effectively during repairs.

Advancements in wood glues over the past decade have significantly improved repair outcomes.

Guitar History and Significance

The discussion shifts towards recounting significant events in the history of "Greenie," emphasizing its resilience despite past damages and its symbolic value as a cherished instrument.

Greenie's History and Symbolism

Anecdote shared about Greenie being severely damaged while stored in Gary Moore's trunk but expertly repaired.

Reflecting on previous damages to Greenie's headstock by Peter Green and Gary Moore before becoming the speaker's own guitar after accidental damage.

The People's Guitar

The speaker emphasizes that "Greenie" is not solely his possession but rather belongs to music enthusiasts who cherish its legacy, expressing humility about playing it.

Shared Ownership Perspective

Viewing "Greenie" as belonging to fans who appreciate its history beyond individual ownership.

Expressing willingness to share "Greenie" with others, highlighting its communal significance over personal possession.

Musical Reflection

Reflecting on musical performances evoking slow-motion perceptions akin to Eddie Van Halen's style, suggesting heightened awareness during peak performance moments.

Musical Perception Insights

Drawing parallels between slow-motion perception during peak musical performances like Eddie Van Halen's style.

Music Dynamics and Evolution

In this section, the discussion revolves around the dynamics of music, particularly focusing on Metallica's approach to songwriting, arrangement, and the evolution of musical culture over time.

Metallica's Approach to Songwriting

Metallica explores tuning down music for a louder impact, considering the effectiveness of simplicity in riffs.

Emphasis on creating simple yet effective riffs without unnecessary complexity or excessive notes.

The band prioritizes intentional setups before guitar solos to enhance dynamics and create impactful transitions in their songs.

Arrangement Dynamics in Metallica Songs

Metallica's song structures focus on building tension, releasing it, and then building it up again with varying dynamics.

The band follows unconventional arrangement rules, preferring diverse formulas for their songs rather than sticking to a single formula.

Impact of Master of Puppets

This segment delves into the enduring impact and initial reception of Metallica's iconic song "Master of Puppets," reflecting on its evolution over almost four decades.

Enduring Impact of "Master of Puppets"

Reflecting on how "Master of Puppets" continues to resonate with audiences almost 40 years after its release despite initial mixed reactions.

Music and Creativity

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of guitar riffs being fun to play and how Metallica songs are designed to be entertaining for the band members.

The Fun in Guitar Riffs

Metallica prioritizes guitar riffs that are enjoyable to play, emphasizing the importance of fun in music creation.

Lars' approval alone is not sufficient; James and the speaker must find a riff engaging for it to progress.

Songs like "Master of Puppets" and "Enter Sandman" are cited as examples of fun-to-play Metallica tracks, essential for their success.

Song Creation Process

The speaker delves into the process of creating songs, highlighting how they recognize potential hits early on in the creative phase.

Recognizing Song Potential

Before entering the studio, Metallica has a sense of which songs will excel based on their creative process.

Adding new parts can transform a song from average to exceptional before any recording takes place.

The band's intuition guides them in identifying when a song is evolving into something significant even before formal recording begins.

Defining Heavy Metal vs. Hard Rock

A discussion on distinguishing heavy metal from hard rock through elements like guitar sound, tempo, and attitude.

Heavy Metal Characteristics

Differentiating heavy metal from hard rock involves factors such as distorted guitar sound, fast beats (180-220 bpm), and an aggressive attitude.

Heavy metal riffs should evoke confrontation and aggression to resonate with listeners seeking an outlet for pent-up emotions.

Heavy Metal as Therapeutic Music

Exploring heavy metal's role as therapeutic music that provides an outlet for emotions like frustration and aggression.

Therapeutic Role of Heavy Metal

Heavy metal serves as a therapeutic outlet for individuals dealing with anger or frustration.

It acts as a release valve for pent-up emotions, offering solace and connection to listeners experiencing similar feelings.

Global Influence of Heavy Metal

Discussing heavy metal's global impact by blending local music styles with heavy aspects, exemplified by bands like The Who from Mongolia.

Global Fusion in Music

Bands worldwide incorporate heavy elements into local music styles, showcasing heavy metal's universal appeal.

Songwriting and Improvisation

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of improvisation in songwriting and music creation.

Importance of Improvisation

Songwriting involves solving musical problems through improvisation.

Master improvisationists like John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix inspire the speaker to aspire to create perfect solos in the moment.

The speaker emphasizes the significance of capturing beauty in improvisational moments both on and off stage.

Musical Creativity and Routine

This part delves into the speaker's creative process, daily routine, and sources of musical inspiration.

Creative Process and Routine

The speaker avoids being a boring musician by prioritizing creativity and avoiding predictability.

Playing guitar early in the morning helps the speaker access a clear mind for creative ideas.

Musical ideas often come during meditation sessions, providing solutions to ongoing musical challenges.

Instruments and Artistic Expression

Here, the focus is on how instruments like the wah pedal influence artistic expression and creativity.

Wah Pedal Influence

The wah pedal is considered another instrument that enhances playing technique.

The wah pedal elevates playing to a different level, shaping notes akin to vocalization.

Music Gear Discussion

In this segment, the speaker discusses the art of using a wah pedal effectively and shares his admiration for the Dimebag wah pedal.

The Magic Dimebag Wah Pedal

The speaker mentions having around 200 wah pedals but highlights one as special.

"I only have one of them and I break it out every single time... it's the dime bag wah."

Expresses deep respect and admiration for Dimebag Darrell.

"I loved him as a guy, I love them as a person, I loved them as a player."

Describes the unique features of the Dimebag wah pedal, including a pickup selector and boost.

"He made a wah that has this pickup selector we toggle through all the various things... it's the greatest idea."

Transition to Fractal Modelers

Transitioning from traditional amplifiers to fractal modelers is discussed in this part of the conversation.

Shift to Fractal Modelers

Compares experiences with traditional amps versus fractal modelers during live performances.

Mentions Avenged Sevenfold using miked amps while their sound was muddy until they switched to fractals.

Highlights challenges with traditional amplifiers related to consistency and sound adjustments.

"Marshall amps are super sensitive... anything can change the bias literally anything can change the bias."

Advantages of Fractal Modelers

Exploring the benefits of fractal modelers over traditional amplifiers for achieving consistent sound quality.

Benefits of Fractal Modelers

Discusses initial skepticism towards digital modelers like Line 6 before realizing their capabilities.

Initially thought of them like Line 6 but later recognized their potential after understanding their capabilities.

Describes how fractal modelers provided studio-quality sound on tour, enhancing consistency and ease of setup.

"We modeled it with the fractal and it was amazing because like I had a studio quality sound in my fractal... album quality sound."

Consistency with Fractal Modelers

Emphasizing how fractal modelers offer consistent sound across various performance settings, reducing setup complexities.

Sound Consistency with Fractal Modelers

Acknowledges improved confidence in sound consistency across different performance environments due to fractal modeler usage.

"The consistency between being in rehearsal going on tour playing radio shows TV shows Awards shows... saves us so much time and headache."

Highlights importance of consistent sound quality during stadium performances for both artists' confidence and audience experience.

Music Production Preferences

In this segment, the speaker discusses his preferences in music production, particularly focusing on analog equipment like amps and tubes versus digital tools.

Analog vs. Digital

The speaker emphasizes the importance of using amps and tubes in music production due to their unique sound qualities.

He expresses a preference for the tactile experience of playing through amps and feeling the air being pushed by speakers.

Despite acknowledging the quality of digital sounds, he feels that something is missing compared to analog equipment.

The speaker highlights his inclination towards using physical knobs on amps rather than navigating complex digital interfaces like fractals.

Album Production Insights

This part delves into the speaker's reflections on album production, specifically focusing on "Master of Puppets" and the creative process with band members.

Master of Puppets Album

The speaker considers "Master of Puppets" as a sentimental album where the band felt they were onto something provocative yet fully committed to every note.

He reminisces about Cliff Burton's musical prowess and unique processes during songwriting sessions.

Reflecting on the coalescence within the band during that period, he wonders about the potential impact if Cliff had been part of "…And Justice for All."

Journey in Music: From Humble Beginnings to Success

This section explores the speaker's personal journey in music from humble beginnings to monumental success, highlighting significant milestones along the way.

Personal Journey

The speaker reflects on his astonishment at transitioning from playing small clubs to massive venues like MetLife Stadium for thousands of fans.

He shares poignant memories of struggling financially in his early days with a guitar carried in a garbage bag, contrasting it with later achievements.

Trippy Thoughts on Guitar Practice

The speaker discusses the significance of positively impacting others through music and delves into his guitar practice routine, including warm-ups, chord exercises, and learning new songs.

Guitar Practice Routine

The speaker follows a warm-up routine taught by Joe Satriani since 1982, known as the "jazz chord relay," which involves major chords.

Demonstrates the jazz chord relay exercise learned from Joe Satriani at 18 years old, emphasizing its importance in his practice routine for strengthening techniques.

Incorporates chromatic exercises as a time-tested warm-up method to prepare fingers before moving on to playing modes and cycling fourths.

Song Learning Process

After warming up and practicing modes, the speaker explores creating riffs, melodies, and progressions based on inspiration from recent experiences or songs heard.

Describes how he learns new songs by ear after being inspired by specific sounds or melodies encountered in daily life or social media platforms like Instagram.

Seeking Musical Challenges

Expresses a passion for discovering unique and interesting guitar pieces like Genesis' songs that offer challenging fingerings and unconventional playing styles.

Emphasizes the importance of exploring different grips and foreign chords to enhance skills and broaden musical horizons continually.

Exploring String Gauges Impact

The conversation shifts towards discussing Jimi Hendrix's guitar string gauges impact on sound production, leading to reflections on experimenting with string gauges for diverse tunings.

String Gauge Exploration

Fascination with Jimi Hendrix's unconventional string gauge setup shared by Bob Rob prompts thoughts on how varying string gauges influence sound quality and tuning stability.

Appreciation for the role of string gauges in shaping a guitar's sound identity, particularly evident when using specific setups like maple-capped Strats with hybrid gauge configurations.

Innovation Through Experimentation

Meeting with Kirk Hammett

In this conversation, Kirk Hammett discusses his passion for music, his solo album "Portals," and his desire to explore different musical styles while still incorporating Metallica influences.

Kirk's Passion for Music

Kirk expresses his love for being on the road, recording, and playing guitar, emphasizing that he never wants to stop working.

Releasing his first solo album "Portals" was a significant achievement for Kirk as it allowed him to share music that had been waiting to be heard.

Musical Exploration and Influences

While acknowledging Metallica as a part of himself, Kirk aims to create music that is different from Metallica's style but may contain some familiar elements.