Speaking on the ‘Let There Be Talk’ podcast, Joe Bonamassa recently voiced his support for Metallica’s Kirk Hammett amidst criticism over Hammett’s use of a historic blues guitar during a performance of ‘Enter Sandman.’
The guitar in question, the ‘Greeny’ Gibson Les Paul, has a rich blues legacy. It has been previously owned by Peter Green and Gary Moore. Acquired by Hammett in 2014, its appearance in Metallica’s shows sparked controversy among those who associate the instrument with blues genre. Bonamassa addressed these concerns, saying:
“When Kirk bought the Peter Green guitar, some of the purists were like, ‘I can’t believe [it], that guitar should be playing blues!’ In which rule book is it stated that Peter Green’s Sunburst Les Paul has to play blues its entire f*cking life? He’s up there playing ‘Enter Sandman.’ I love it.”
He then showed his appreciation for Hammett’s performance with ‘Greeny,’ claiming the guitarist does the guitar justice:
“He gigs it hard. I’m like, that’s what it needs. It needs to be played, and he’s the perfect guy to own it. And the same thing with the black ’59. It’s not like he bought it and wrapped it in bubble wrap. He gives it to his tech, and it’s on stage in stadiums.”
You can listen to the full interview below.
Bonamassa and Hammett Collect Guitars
A vintage guitar collector, Bonamassa said he also played a role in another rare piece in Hammett’s collection – a factory black 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, known as ‘Ella.’ He also had a highly valuable guitar that Hammett laid his eyes on — a ‘Black Burst’ Les Paul. Although the guitarist declined to sell it to Hammett, he helped him find another rare Les Paul.
Bonamassa’s collection, with around 500 guitars and amps, began at the age of 14 with a 1954 hard-tail Stratocaster and expanded rapidly during the early 2000s. There are a large number of guitars and amps displayed in his LA home. Fans may see some pieces from his collection during Bonamassa’s upcoming shows, for which you can get your ticket here.
Hammett’s Recent Guitar Solo Controversy
As for the recent news, Hammett’s guitar-playing approach is now a topic of interest. He openly addressed a mishap during Metallica’s Power Trip festival show in October 2023, where he made an error while playing the intro to ‘Nothing Else Matters.’ Hammett’s response to the incident was to apologize and say ‘he doesn’t take himself too seriously.’
Metallica has several upcoming shows along the way as they are continuing their M72 World Tour. You can learn the latest news about the shows and purchase a ticket via the band’s official website.
Along with the discussion around Hammett’s use of the ‘Greeny’ and his approach to guitar solos, fellow guitarist Angel Vivaldi had another thing to criticize. In December 2023, Vivaldi expressed respect for Hammett’s influence on his career while criticizing his impact on the quality of guitar solos in modern music, saying Hammett is ‘responsible for the death of guitar solos.’
