“I gave my friend a call and said, ‘What have you got for me today?’ He goes, ‘Oh, I have a guitar for you…’” How Kirk Hammett ended up in possession of the legendary ‘Greeny’ Les Paul – and why he had no interest in it at first

Kirk Hammett performs during the 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song presentation to Elton John and Bernie Taupin by the Library of Congress at DAR Constitution Hall on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.

As is well-known in guitar circles, Kirk Hammett is currently in possession of perhaps the most legendary Gibson Les Paul to ever exist. We’re speaking, of course, about the ‘Greeny’.

Once owned by Peter Green and then Gary Moore, this particular Les Paul Standard is heralded for its flipped neck humbucker and mythical middle position guitar tone, having been used by its previous owners on countless legendary in-studio and on-stage moments.