Happy Birthday Kirk Hammett

[kiff]

Kirk really kicked some serious ass on the first 3 albums, but he failed to grow or stay inspired.

RTL seems to get ignored when talking about Kirk, but it had some really cool chordal/melodic structure in the solos and harmonized parts; very eerie but aggressive (almost testament-like) and even their marshal tone of the time fit perfect. A tad of neoclassical in the tonal deptartment if you will. Kirk played to it perfectly and seemed to have been expanding into arpeggios, more scalar playing and away from standard rock/metal pentatonic licks.

MOP, with their change to boogies and twist in style seemed to blend again with a bigger, earthier, snarling-demon(mid cut) and yet polished sound. Kirk seemed to have backed off from the direction on RTL and more back towards KTA, but he still complimented it very, very well.

AJFA... I liked but I could see a lack of enthusiasm/inspiration all around for the band...

All that said, Kirk and Metallica were a huge influence on me as a teenager and really drove me to play, but after MOP I saw the burning fire start to fizzle out. I think Kirk may have been complacent and didn't really care to keep expanding his technique, which is fine, but to not expand musically is inexcusable. I'm (very) guilty of it too, probably like many of us around here, but most of us don't make a very, very good living off of our playing and have a million other things occupying our time. Hell, I think he could have at least learned good vibrato by now. There's no excuse for that

Oh yea, happy belated bday

 

[stephen sawall]

Maybe Kirk likes that vibrato sound ? Has Lars complained about the vibrato ?

 

[ejecta]

Kirk isn't the best I've ever heard

Not by a longshot...

but yes there is certain mentality around these parts. :yes

These parts? Be careful I got scolded already for saying "around here"

I'm not too worried. While this place does tend to have more guys mainly into the 80's metal music which is cool there are some great players here and some good folks. I'd venture to guess too though that I'm on a few's ignore list.

I like 80's metal and always will. My musical tastes just don't stay strictly into a certain musical style. That said there is absolutely nothing wrong with liking just one style of music.... I just like a variety personally.

 

[Gainzilla]

Kirk isn't the best I've ever heard

Not by a longshot...

but yes there is certain mentality around these parts. :yes

These parts? Be careful I got scolded already for saying "around here"

I'm not too worried. While this place does tend to have more guys mainly into the 80's metal music which is cool there are some great players here and some good folks. I'd venture to guess too though that I'm on a few's ignore list.

I like 80's metal and always will. My musical tastes just don't stay strictly into a certain musical style. I just like a variety personally.

Id be willing to bet that the bolded speaks for the majority of RT. Im just not a fan of pidgeonholing or generalizing...

 

[Motorpud]

Here is the deal: 1st: Kirk Hammett plays rhythm guitar in Metallica as well. Parts that most those spandex hair metal guys would be crushed by. 2nd: his solos are great for his band and they work. The only singular problem I have ever had with Kirk was/is his vibrato. His solos on MOP and AJfA are excellent but my favorite is his solos on kill em all, I WISH I could play THOsE solos to this day.

3rd: not to take anything away from lynch/yngwie/martini, but they are never going to reach the success Kirk has with his guitar, they will never be the rock star he is, they will never have the money or the hookers he does, it's almost funny how much bigger of a rockstar Kirk is than all those washed up 80's players, THAT says everything. You can bag on him all you want, in the end he is the most successful of ANY of them. ANY.

Well said. I'm willing to bet most, if not all of those guys would trade careers and bank accounts with Kirk in a heartbeat.

Not everyone can shred like Shawn Lane, thing is not everyone wants to hear him jerk the neck of a guitar off at 7 minute intervals either. Most people wouldn't get it and couldn't keep interest in it for more than one track, if that.

While this place does tend to have more guys mainly into the 80's metal music which is cool there are some great players here and some good folks. I'd venture to guess too though that I'm on a few's ignore list.

I like 80's metal and always will. My musical tastes just don't stay strictly into a certain musical style. That said there is absolutely nothing wrong with liking just one style of music.... I just like a variety personally.

There are tons of great people and players here for sure. Some of the people I enjoy talking to most in life I met here

I'll admit being narrow minded when it comes to some music (can't do rap or redneck) but I don't have problem giving credit where it's due, a quality that seems to elude some.

 

[glpg80]

he can have the bank account. at least i can play my own material and write my own music peacefully.

 

[Motorpud]

Love that clip. Where's the one where his amp goes out on him and he starts yelling at the guy to take it away?

 

[Chris6870]

Who plays chugga chugga metal on the neck pickup of a Les Paul?

 

[glpg80]

Love that clip. Where's the one where his amp goes out on him and he starts yelling at the guy to take it away?

where is this clip, i must see it

 

[Mailman1971]

Anyhow.....Kirk is one of my Idols....no matter what.
When I was growing up and starting to play guitar....Ride the Lightning was coming out and it blew me away.

 

[emperor_black]

Love that clip. Where's the one where his amp goes out on him and he starts yelling at the guy to take it away?

where is this clip, i must see it

Is this the one?

 

[Mailman1971]

What is he playing? Some Mesa Combo??

 

[garey77]

They're still killer performers, even if all the notes don't come out right all of the time. Look at if from a statistical point of view: How many shows of original material have all of y'all performed and not stumbled or downright embarrassed yourself? These guys have what, thousands of shows? It's hard to hide your f-ups when the world's watching you all of the time. Some of us rarely get to play to more than tables and chairs. It's really a 'whatever' sort of thing. Yet at the same time, the proof's in the pudding.

 

[glpg80]

Love that clip. Where's the one where his amp goes out on him and he starts yelling at the guy to take it away?

where is this clip, i must see it

Is this the one?

2:30 kirk sulking like a 4 year old FTMFW

 

[Chris6870]

What is he playing? Some Mesa Combo??

Rectoverb 2x12?

 

[stephen sawall]

What is he playing? Some Mesa Combo??

It looks like it might be a Tremoverb combo they both have ?

 

[Rogue]

I think he had a solid gold birthday cake and diamond chunk ice cream.

 

[Gainfreak]

Happy Birthday!!

I gotcha a little somethin somethin!!

 

[Anonymous]

The guy wrote the main riff to Enter Sandman...probably one of the most recognizable riffs of all time

Formed Exodus with Paul Bailloff and Gary holt

Plays in arguably the biggest metal band of all time...

Kirk Hammet = Metal Legend!

 

[Rogue]

The guy wrote the main riff to Enter Sandman...probably one of the most recognizable riffs of all time

Formed Exodus with Paul Bailloff and Gary holt

Plays in arguably the biggest metal band of all time...

But, but, but, but....!!!!!!