In a recent interview with American Songwriter, Kirk Hammett talked about Metallica’s current status in the music industry. He also addressed their plans for the future. The guitarist said:
“The band seems to get bigger. I guess that’s a good thing. We’re just going to continue to do the positive thing, which is to make music that brings people together and helps people. That seems like it’s the m.o. for the band, and we’ll continue to serve that. Because it’s gone beyond so many other things. It’s beyond status, beyond finances, beyond petty fucking competition. It’s culture in its highest fucking form, in that it helps and inspires people, and gets people through their day.”
Hammett also claimed the ending of Metallica means the ending of music entirely. He explained:
“It continues to do this, and there’s no real end. It isn’t like someone could wake up and say, ‘That’s the end of Metallica.’ No. It’s like saying that’s the end of music. That will never happen. Music is just one of those things that’s needed in life, and thank God we have it.”
James Hetfield Thinks ‘Musicians Never Retire’
James Hetfield has an alternative take on the retirement issue. Back in 2015, James shared a statement via the band’s fan club newsletter and stated that the musicians weren’t able to retire. He insisted that Metallica will continue making music until they physically can’t do it. The singer said, reported by NME:
“Look, musicians never retire. They just become less popular. People think you’ve retired, but no, I’m still writing. It’s a part of me. It’s what I do on this planet. That’s why I’ve been put here, I believe. And if I stop that, part of me dies. There’s no retirement. So we do what we do until physically we can’t do it.”
Metallica members seem to share a common opinion on the band’s future. They all have one thing that will keep them going even after 43 years, which is the urge to make music for their fans as long as they can.
