Kirk Hammett, the acclaimed guitarist for multi-platinum, nine-time Grammy Award-winning band Metallica, has been hosting special “Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live” book events across the United States. These intimate discussions delve into Hammett‘s storied music career and celebrate the launch of his new coffee table book, “The Collection: Kirk Hammett.” A recent highlight occurred on June 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Event Center in Tampa, Florida.
During the Tampa event, fans were treated to a surprise appearance by Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined Hammett on stage for an impromptu jam session. Fan-filmed video of this unannounced performance from the Tampa stop has since surfaced online and you can watch it down below.
This surprise collaboration mirrors a similar event held earlier on May 24, when Hammett hosted a “Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live” event at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Trujillo also made a surprise appearance there, joining Hammett for an unexpected jam, footage of which is available for fans to view online.
These spontaneous musical moments are an extension of a unique feature Metallica has incorporated into their recent tours. Known as “doodles” in their setlists, these segments involve Hammett and Trujillo performing stripped-down covers of songs by artists who have influenced them. These interpretations, often featuring just bass and guitar (with Trujillo occasionally on vocals), are known for sometimes diverging significantly from Metallica‘s traditional metal sound. They frequently serve as tributes to local musical heroes; for instance, during Metallica’s Toronto concert on April 26th, Hammett and Trujillo honored Canadian rock legends Rush with a rendition of their instrumental classic, “La Villa Strangiato.”
“The Collection: Kirk Hammett,” a substantial 400-page hardcover book, was recently released worldwide through Gibson Publishing. The book offers an extraordinary deep dive into Hammett‘s vast guitar collection and his life in music. It recounts the fascinating stories behind the rare and iconic instruments he has utilized on hit records and on stages across the globe. The publication is available in three premium formats—limited signed and numbered Custom and Deluxe Editions, as well as a Standard hardcover—which can be purchased through Gibson.com and at Gibson Garage locations.
Fans in other regions will have another chance to experience one of these intimate discussions, as “Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live“—a conversation featuring Hammett and Mark Agnesi of Gibson—is also scheduled to take place in Denver, Colorado, on June 28.
