The Latest Breaking News from Kirk Hammett

“Let’s hop to it”: James Hetfield wins Halloween by donning inflatable kangaroo costume to rip through a thrash classic – and he doesn’t miss a beat

Two Metallica members didn’t get the Halloween memo for the gig

Guitar World · Nov 3, 2025

“It was about completing the circle and us showing what James and I as guitar players did to change the world”: Dave Mustaine reveals why Megadeth are covering Metallica on their final album

Megadeth's new album will find Mustaine and co playing a Metallica classic, co-written by Mustaine in the early days, and MegaDave promises us we've never heard Ride the Lightning like this before

Guitar World · Oct 31, 2025

“Instruments that shaped metal forever”: The mystery Gibson SG Kirk Hammett played at Ozzy Osbourne’s last show is heading to auction – along with more than 150 other guitars from his collection

The SG was used to play a Black Sabbath cover at Back to the Beginning, and it’s headed to the auction block alongside some other choice picks from Hammett's collection

Guitar World · Oct 30, 2025

The story of the terrible 90s horror film with the trailblazing soundtrack that mixed Metallica and Korn with Orbital, Moby and The Prodigy

Years after Judgement Night blazed a trail with hip hop and metal, this album seemed destined to do the same with metal and edm. So why didn't it?

Metal Hammer · Oct 22, 2025

“I’m a big Metallica fan. I’ve seen Kirk playing it over the years and know what a big deal that guitar is”: Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil is a Strat player through and through – but here's why he couldn't say no to Gibson's ‘Greeny’ reissue

Buying such a pricey guitar wasn’t an easy decision, but he’s been making the most of his purchase

Guitar World · Oct 17, 2025

“He wanted all that at an undoable selling price”: Mesa/Boogie founder Randall Smith confirms rumours that it built James Hetfield a signature model – and it combined three iconic amps in one

A Diezel, a JC-120 and a Mark IIC+ all in one? That would have cost a whack – and it would have, which is why the Metallica frontman's prototype never got released

MusicRadar · Sep 24, 2025

“I was instantly in a band because nobody wanted to play bass back then”: How Eddie Van Halen led to Les Claypool picking up the bass – and how he nearly joined Kirk Hammett’s band

The Primus bassist and Metallica lead guitarist attended the same high school – and very nearly ended up in the same band

Guitar World · Sep 10, 2025

“After Kirk introduced me to Greeny, it felt only right to return the favor”: Kirk Hammett let Al Di Meola play his iconic Greeny – so the fusion virtuoso let him play his prized Elegant Gypsy Black Beauty

The two guitar greats let each other have a go on their cherished Les Pauls

Guitar World · Sep 9, 2025

“We all talked to each other before we went on – Kirk, Zakk and Slash. Kirk said, ‘I’m nervous, man!’ I said, ‘I am too’”: Jerry Cantrell looks back at the “walk-off home run” of Ozzy Osbourne’s final show

The Alice in Chains guitarist didn’t catch up with the Prince of Darkness before his death, but he’s satisfied to have been part of Back to the Beginning with musician friends Slash, Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett and others

Guitar World · Sep 9, 2025

“The high priests of conceptual rock!”: Every Rush studio album ranked – from worst to best

Manic Street Preachers' Nicky Wire called them “the world’s biggest cult band”

MusicRadar · Sep 5, 2025