KIRK HAMMETT Offers An Honest Take On His Guitar Skills: “I Should Be A Lot Better Than I Am”

Now 62, Kirk Hammett joined Metallica in 1983 and helped shape the band’s unmistakable sound. But even after years of commercial success and critical acclaim, he seems more inspired by, and at times intimidated by, the rising tide of young talent flooding platforms like YouTube.

“I should be a lot better than I am,” he told Metal Hammer, laughing at himself. “I see some of these younger guitar players and I’m like, ‘Where did I go wrong?’ Ha ha!”

“I see a lot of [people on YouTube] and I’m frigging impressed,” he continued. “There are some amazing players out there, where I’m just shaking my head like, ‘Why aren’t these guys working? Why aren’t they recording?’ But then I think… maybe they can’t. Maybe they have jobs, or families, or something they can’t leave behind.”

Hammett acknowledged a gap between what’s expected of a guitarist of his stature and what he feels he delivers. Yet his philosophy on playing seems to remain grounded not in precision, but in emotion.

“It’s hard for me to be objective or subjective for where I stand in all of this,” he added. “I just know that I like playing the way I do; I know if I keep on playing from my cajónes, somebody is going to be able to relate to that.”

Apparently, Hammett doesn’t measure his worth in fretboard acrobatics or speed, but in favoring soul over spectacle.

“I don’t need to show off or get egotistical by being like, ‘Hey, check out this three-octave arpeggio with tapping in the middle.’ I can’t be fucking bothered! I have a bombastic way of playing – I’ve always been that way, even when I was just in my room.”

In the meantime, Metallica is on the road playing their M72 2025 tour featuring Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies as openers, as well as Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills. Tickets are available here.

5/7 Blacksburg, VA Lane Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
5/9 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
5/11 Columbus, OH Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium
5/23 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field (w/ Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
5/25 Philadelphia, PA Lincoln Financial Field (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
5/28 Landover, MD Northwest Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
5/31 Charlotte, NC Bank of America Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
6/3 Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
6/6 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium (w/ Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
6/8 Tampa, FL Raymond James Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
6/14 Houston, TX NRG Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
6/20 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium (w/ Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
6/22 Santa Clara, CA Levi’s Stadium (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
6/27 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High (w/ Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
6/29 Denver, CO Empower Field at Mile High (w/ Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
7/5 Birmingham, England Villa Park
11/1 Perth, Australia Optus Stadium
11/5 Adelaide, Australia Adelaide Oval
11/8 Melbourne, Australia Marvel Stadium
11/12 Brisbane, Australia Suncorp Stadium
11/15 Sydney, Australia Accor Stadium
11/19 Auckland, New Zealand Eden Park
12/3 Sakhir, Bahrain Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre
12/6 Abu Dhabi, UAE Yas Island – Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix