Joe Satriani took to Instagram to pay tribute to Metallica’s Kirk Hammett after the band’s fourth Helping Hands Concert & Auction at L.A.’s YouTube Theater.
“Big thanks to Metallica for inviting the BOAWB to play at their ‘All Within My Hands’ benefit show last week,” the guitarist wrote in his post. “Kirk and I have known each other since the early ’80s.”
He continued, “In the back of a vintage guitar store, we spent hours together playing our guitars, sharing a commitment to the instrument and the belief that we could change the world with our guitars. He certainly did! I’m so proud of his accomplishments, his musicianship, and his character.”
Satriani started as a guitar teacher, and many of his students, like Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, and Alex Skolnick, became famous. Hammett was also one of his students. Kirk took lessons from Satriani in the ’80s, even as Metallica became famous, and kept learning from him until 1988.
Earlier this year, the Metallica guitarist spoke about Joe’s importance to him in an episode of The Metallica Report podcast. Steffan Chirazi said Satriani and Steve Vai have played Metallica’s song ‘Enter Sandman.’ Satriani said he likes the solo.
Hammett responded by saying, “That’s absolutely, totally, completely wonderful. I love so many of his solos. He’s Yoda, he’s my Yoda, okay? Every time Yoda says ‘Luke, Luke, you’re doing it!’ that’s how I kind of feel.”
Satriani also previously recalled his lessons with Kirk, explaining, “Like, Kirk would come in and say, ‘This is a rehearsal tape, we’re working on the song. What key is this in?’ And it was brand-new music! I mean, it was different from what other musicians had been doing for the last hundred years.”
“And I’d say, ‘Well, I’m not going to tell you what to play. But here, I’ll tell you how to figure it out. And these are the choices. And then you just go do Kirk Hammett once you learn this stuff,'” the rocker further shared.
Metallica’s Helping Hands Concert was held in Los Angeles on December 13. Sammy Hagar, SistaStrings, and Metallica performed. The event raised money for Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, which supports charities. Jimmy Kimmel hosted, and guests included Slash and Tom Morello.
Hagar played with Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Kenny Aronoff, performing songs from Van Halen, Chickenfoot, Montrose, and his solo work. Metallica played two sets, one acoustic and one electric, with guests like SistaStrings, Avi Vincour, and Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam.
Photo Credit: Joe Satriani – Instagram
