Kirk Hammett

The horror-loving lead guitarist who shaped Metallica's sound since 1983.

Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica, a role he has held since 1983. Born on November 18, 1962, in El Sobrante, California, Hammett co-founded the thrash metal band Exodus in 1979 before joining his current group. His musical identity is deeply rooted in a lifelong passion for horror movies, which began when he was five years old after breaking an arm. He sold his horror magazine collection to buy records, eventually picking up the guitar at age 15 on a Montgomery Ward catalog special. Over decades, Hammett has crafted iconic riffs and solos, earning recognition as one of the greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023, where he ranked at #23.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Kirk Lee Hammett
Born: 18 November 1962
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genre: Heavy metal; thrash metal
Instrument: Guitar
Occupation: Musician
Years active: 1979–present
Label: Blackened

Lore & Background

Hammett's early life was defined by a unique blend of family dynamics and pop culture obsessions. Raised by a Filipino mother and an English, German, Scottish, and Irish father whom he described as a "full-blooded Irishman" involved in frequent fights, Hammett recalled his upbringing as a "toxic soup of masculinity." A childhood injury at age five led to him watching The Day of the Triffids, sparking a decade-long obsession with horror magazines and Frankenstein figures. This passion directly funded his musical start; he sold his magazine collection to buy records by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin from his brother Rick's collection. He attended De Anza High School in Richmond, where he was a classmate of Les Claypool of Primus, remaining close friends ever since. His first instrument was a "wholly unglamorous" Montgomery Ward guitar paired with a shoebox amp with a four-inch speaker, before he upgraded to a 1978 Fender Stratocaster copy and finally a 1974 Gibson Flying V.

Reader's Guide

Hammett has contributed numerous riffs to Metallica since their second album, Ride the Lightning, including a famous riff used in "Enter Sandman." This track was the first single on The Black Album and ranked 399th on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. He also adapted an Exodus riff for the bridge of "Creeping Death." Between touring cycles for The Black Album and Load, he studied film and Asian arts at San Francisco State University, entering a "blues period" that influenced Load and Reload. While jazz profoundly affected his improvisation, he felt he delved too deep and returned to being "primarily" a metal guitarist with the release of Death Magnetic. During the 2003 album St. Anger, Hammett expressed interest in solo work but ultimately agreed with producer Bob Rock and drummer Lars Ulrich that his solos sounded like an "afterthought" and were excluded. In April 2015, he admitted to losing a phone containing 250 new ideas for Metallica, remembering only eight of them.

Origins and Early Influences

Kirk Hammett was born on November 18, 1962, in San Francisco, California, and raised in El Sobrante. His mother, Teofila "Chefela" Hammett (née Oyao), is of Filipino, specifically Cebuano, descent. His father, Dennis L. Hammett, a merchant mariner, was of English, German, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. Hammett described his father as a "full-blooded Irishman who liked to drink and liked to scrap," noting that family gatherings were a "toxic soup of masculinity." He attended De Anza High School in Richmond, California, where he met Les Claypool, the bassist of Primus; they remain close friends. His musical journey began after watching The Day of the Triffids at age five following an arm sprain from a fight with his sister. This sparked a decade-long obsession with horror magazines, which he sold to buy records from his brother Rick's collection featuring Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. He started playing guitar at 15 on a "wholly unglamorous" Montgomery Ward special with a shoebox amp.

The Exodus Years and Thrash Foundations

In 1979, at the age of sixteen, Hammett co-formed the thrash metal band Exodus in the Bay Area. The founding members included vocalist Paul Baloff, guitarist Tim Agnello, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting. He named the band after the Leon Uris novel of the same name. During this era, Hammett took guitar lessons from Joe Satriani, who was based in Berkeley at the time. The band recorded a 1982 Demo and its successor, Die By His Hand, released in 1983. Exodus became an influential force in the Bay Area thrash movement. Notably, Hammett brought a riff from his time with Exodus to Metallica; this riff formed the bridge for the song "Creeping Death," demonstrating his compositional continuity between the two bands before he officially joined Metallica.

Joining Metallica and Defining Moments

Hammett's entry into Metallica occurred in April 1983 while the band was in New York recording Kill 'Em All. After firing Dave Mustaine, Hammett flew to audition on April 11. His performance of "Seek and Destroy" convinced James Hetfield that the band was in good hands, leading to an immediate invitation to join. Since then, he has written riffs for many tracks, including the iconic "Enter Sandman," which appeared on The Black Album. A pivotal and tragic moment occurred in 1986 during a European tour supporting Master of Puppets. After a card draw determined bunk assignments, Cliff Burton took Hammett's bunk. Hours later, the bus crashed in Sweden, killing Burton who had been sleeping in that spot. Hammett has frequently reflected on this event, stating it could have easily been him and that the thought "never left me to this day." In 2009, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Metallica.

Artistic Evolution and Critical Legacy

Hammett's career has seen significant stylistic shifts. Between the touring for The Black Album and Load, he studied at San Francisco State University, focusing on film and Asian arts. This period included a "blues period" that influenced Load and Reload, alongside a deep exploration of jazz which refined his improvisation but eventually led him to feel he was delving too far from metal. Since Death Magnetic, he has returned to being primarily a metal guitarist. In 2015, he lost a phone containing 250 new musical ideas, remembering only eight. His solo work includes the extended play Portals, released on April 23, 2022, inspired by classical music and horror soundtracks. His legacy is cemented by rankings in Joel McIver's The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists (number 15 in 2009) and a joint ranking of 23rd with James Hetfield on Rolling Stone's list of the Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was his previous band before Metallica?

Before joining Metallica, Hammett played guitar for the thrash metal group Exodus. He left that lineup to accept an offer from Hetfield and Ulrich after Dave Mustaine departed.

Is Kirk Hammett still active with Metallica today?

Yes, he remains an active member of the band with no plans to retire from touring or recording. His status continues as a core pillar of the group's current lineup.