In the world of heavy metal, few guitarists are as iconic as Kirk Hammett, the legendary lead guitarist of Metallica. Known for his blistering solos and intricate riffs, Hammett has crafted some of the most memorable guitar moments in rock history.
But when asked to pick his best solo in a recent interview with Guitar World, you might be surprised by the one he chose.
“The solo in ‘Fuel’ was done on the green Strat from the ‘I Disappear’ video,” Kirk said. “I love that guitar so much. I still have it; that thing just feels like an old friend. So I really love how that solo came out. But it’s a tough question, bro.
“I think I’ll say it’s the one from ‘Hero of the Day’ (from 1996’s Load album). “Every note counts and fits perfectly. I feel like everything is in its right place and the solo lifts the song to another level, which I always try to do – even if I’m not always successful. The track has a different level of intensity afterwards.”
“There’s another solo I really like – I’ve tried to relearn it and I just can’t f**kin’ nail it. It’s the one from ‘The Unforgiven III‘ (from 2008’s Death Magnetic album),” he continued. “Some of the playing is out of time, but it sounds super-effective.
“It can happen: you’ll play something out of time but it just friggin’ works. It’s crazy. And because it’s out of time, it’s hard for me to relearn because I always want to play in time. It feels unnatural, even though I’m the one who originally played it!
“I’m a big fan of playing from the heart. I love seeing technique – a lot of new younger players have both hands on the neck, doing all this crazy stuff. I also dig all those percussive acoustic players. I love all that stuff to death. But, man, most of all I just love hearing simple solos that sing.”
Metallica has just revealed a new film titled Metallica Saved My Life, directed by the acclaimed Jonas Åkerlund. The film explores the profound influence the band has had on their fans, including the members themselves, highlighting their collective journey over the past four decades. Set to be released as a work-in-progress this spring and summer, it offers a deep dive into the band’s legacy and the connection they’ve built with their audience.
