Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett is Metallica’s lead guitarist, a solo instrumental artist and a lifelong horror fan whose music, guitars and collections tell their own stories.
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Latest
Kirk’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Born
- November 18, 1962, in San Francisco, California
- Raised
- El Sobrante, California
- Work
- Guitarist, songwriter and solo recording artist
- First band
- Co-founded Exodus in 1979
- Metallica
- Joined as lead guitarist in April 1983
- Solo debut
- Portals, a four-track instrumental EP released April 23, 2022
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in San Francisco and raised in El Sobrante, Kirk picked up guitar at 15. He co-founded Exodus in 1979 and became part of the Bay Area thrash scene before Metallica called in 1983.
Finding his band.
Kirk joined Metallica in April 1983, replacing Dave Mustaine just before the band recorded Kill ’Em All. Ride the Lightning followed in 1984, then Master of Puppets in 1986. Those records put his lead playing at the heart of the band’s growing audience.
The wider breakthrough.
Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album brought a wider audience through songs including “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters.” Kirk has continued recording and touring with the band, including on 2023’s 72 Seasons and the M72 tour.
His own musical worlds.
His first solo release, Portals, arrived in April 2022. Kirk produced the four instrumental tracks and worked with conductor Edwin Outwater, who co-wrote “High Plains Drifter” and “The Incantation.” The project grew from music Kirk made for a museum exhibition of his horror collection.
Beyond the records.
His interests in horror art and guitars run alongside the music. The Collection: Kirk Hammett, published by Gibson in 2025, pairs interviews with Ross Halfin’s photographs of instruments from across his career.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 202372 SeasonsLead guitarist, Metallica
- 2022PortalsSolo artist, guitarist and producer
- 1991Metallica (The Black Album)Lead guitarist, Metallica
- 1986Master of PuppetsLead guitarist, Metallica
- 1983Kill ’Em AllLead guitarist, Metallica
Books
- 2025The Collection: Kirk HammettFeatured guitarist and interview subject; written and edited by Chris Vinnicombe
Awards
Quotes
I’m creating sounds and pieces of music for the movies playing in my head.Kirk Hammett, Metallica.com
Describing his approach to Portals when his debut solo EP was announced in February 2022.
Trivia
- He sold horror magazines to help buy records as his interest in music grew.
- Greeny, his 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, previously belonged to Peter Green and Gary Moore.
- “Maiden and the Monster” began as music for the 2017 It’s Alive! exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
- His horror collection includes movie posters, props, toys and guitars.
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