Metallica’s lead guitarist Kirk Hammett revealed his favorite guitar solos in an interview with Guitar World.
“The solo in ‘Fuel’ was done on the green Strat from the ‘I Disappear’ video. 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,” Hammett said. “But it’s a tough question, bro.”
“I think I’ll say it’s the one from ‘Hero of the Day.’ Every note counts and fits perfectly,” he continued. “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*ckin’ nail it. It’s the one from The ‘Unforgiven III,'” 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,” Hammett added. “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.”
The interview promoted Hammett’s new Gibson book featuring his remarkable guitar collection.
His selection of favorite solos provides insight into his career-long evolution as Metallica’s guitarist.
Metal Injection revealed that ‘Hero of the Day,’ ‘One,’ and ‘Fade to Black’ remain Hammett’s top three favorite solos. The solo in ‘One’ emerged largely from improvisation, showcasing his spontaneous creative abilities.
Far Out Magazine highlighted Hammett’s diverse guitar style. His playing combines elements of flamenco, jazz, classical, and blues. This unique approach has shaped Metallica’s distinctive sound through the years.
The guitarist consistently prioritizes emotional expression over technical displays. His philosophy of creating solos that ‘sing’ has left a lasting impact on metal guitarists.
His extensive guitar collection serves a clear purpose in his creative process. Each instrument contributes its unique character to his solos. The green Stratocaster used in ‘Fuel’ demonstrates this special connection between artist and instrument.
