Kirk Hammett’s Guitar Used At Black Sabbath’s ‘Back To The Beginning’ Show Fetches Over $76,000 At Auction

A custom Gibson guitar played by Metallica icon Kirk Hammett during one of the most significant heavy metal events of the decade has sold for a staggering $76,800, obliterating pre-auction estimates.

The instrument, a unique Gibson CEO4 model, was a centerpiece of Julien’s Auctions’ annual “Played, Worn & Torn” event. Originally estimated to sell for a modest $4,000 to $6,000, the guitar sparked a bidding war, largely due to its provenance: it was the very axe Hammett wielded during Metallica‘s performance at the historic “Back To The Beginning” concert in Birmingham this past July.

The “Back To The Beginning” event, held on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park, served as the final curtain call for Ozzy Osbourne, seeing the Prince of Darkness reunite with Black Sabbath members for an emotional farewell in the band’s hometown. During the show, Metallica performed a cover of the Sabbath classic “Hole In The Sky,” with Hammett using this specific guitar to pay homage to the riff-master himself, Tony Iommi.

Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian, who designed the instrument as part of his “CEO” series, confirmed the intent behind the guitar’s creation. “[Kirk] said he really loved it, and it was going to be the perfect guitar for ‘Hole in the Sky‘, and also as a way for him to pay tribute to Tony [Iommi],” Gueikian stated.

The guitar itself is a collector’s dream. It features a mahogany body with a flame maple top finished in “Ghost Burst,” a 24.75-inch scale mahogany neck, and an ebony fretboard adorned with mother-of-pearl inlays. The headstock bears custom model inlays and a truss rod cover engraved with “CEO-4.” The winning bidder also received a hardshell case, a custom strap, and Gueikian’s personal backstage pass from the concert.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit Gibson Gives, the company’s philanthropic arm dedicated to supporting non-profit music organizations and advancing music education globally.

Hammett’s guitar was just one highlight in an auction that saw astronomical figures for rock memorabilia. A 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard played by Keith Richards sold for $192,000, while another of Hammett‘s instruments—a 1985 Gibson Flying V previously owned by Michael Schenker—fetched $160,000.

Reflecting on the auctioning of his massive collection, Hammett expressed a desire for these instruments to find new lives rather than gather dust.

“It drives me crazy to see the whole bunch of guitars not being played,” Hammett said. “That’s my hope that people buy these and play them, record with them, tour with them.”