Kirk Hammett’s Thoughts on Metallica’s New Album

Metallica‘s guitarist Kirk Hammett joined the quiz “Does Rock ‘N’ Roll Kill Braincells?!” and answer the questions about Metallica’s new album.

Before asking the last query: What’s the deal with a new Metallica album? Kirk Hammett breezes through the exam with about as many hits as misses. He replies that he is unable to discuss the newest Metallica record. Which, you know, implies that a new Metallica record is probably in the works.

Kirk Hammett’s Thoughts on Metallica’s New Album 72 Seasons

He talks about Metallica’s new album 72 Seasons:

“I’m not supposed to talk about the new album. Everyone warns me ‘Don’t talk about the new album!’, so you can ask me 20 questions and it’ll just be me politely finding different ways of me saying ‘I can’t talk about the new album!’

Damn! According to the American school system, that equates to about a D-minus – failing! You know, I am a Kentucky Fried Brain Cell Fool. But I’m doing my best to regenerate them as gently as possible. It’s a good job I’ve been sober for the last 7 and a half years or else I would have got all 10 wrong!”

Question: Which late icon hailed your 2011 collaboration album ‘Lulu’ as “Lou Reed’s greatest work”?

Kirk Hammett answered: “David Bowie.” And continued: 

“That was one of the highest compliments I ever got as a musician and artist, and it was an incredible honor working with Lou Reed. And, I loved the ‘Lulu’ album. I remember Lou sharing with me that letter David Bowie sent to Lou: it was written on paper and it was such a glowing, grueling appraisal of the ‘Lulu’ album.

When Lou showed it to me, it brought me to tears bro! ‘Cause I might be some heavy metal guy but Lou Reed and David Bowie made tonnes of great music that has been a huge inspiration to me over the course of my life. It’s hard for me to listen back to ‘Lulu’ because it brings me back to that time – thinking about working with Lou and soaking up his vibe. It became a very emotional album for me, and I’m afraid to listen to it!”

Question: “How many different artists appear on 2021’s all-star tribute album ‘The Metallica Blacklist’?”

Hammett answered: “Holy s**t! I would say something like 15,000?” But this is WRONG. It’s 53.

“I knew there was a five in there! Having Elton appear on ‘Nothing Else Matters’ [with Miley Cyrus] felt like a culmination. Because he was a huge inspiration to everyone in the band so for him to play on one of our songs is a huge honor.”

Question: “Who’s been the most unexpected person who’s turned out to be a Metallica fan?”

“Richard Ramirez. When we played San Quentin Prison, he was on death row and could hear us. The guards who were responsible for watching him said Richard Ramirez was pissed off and pacing his cell because he wasn’t allowed to see us. He gave the guards his subscription copy of a magazine with us on the cover and on the mail tag it said: ‘Richard Ramirez, San Quentin Prison.’

So that’s my little token from Richard Ramirez. Not to glorify the guy – he did some horrible crimes. He hung out in Richmond California, and I wonder sometimes if me and the guys from Exodus were at the same parties as him back in the day.”

You can watch and listen to “Metallica: Lux Æterna” below!