Metallica’s Kirk Hammett and Gibson Publishing Announce “The Collection: Kirk Hammett” Coffee Table Book and Live Tour


Kirk Hammett of Metallica ID 24705247 © Yakub88 | Dreamstime.com

Join Kirk Hammett, legendary guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling and 9X Grammy® Award-winning band Metallica, for an intimate, live discussion that will take a deep dive into KIRK’s storied music career, and celebrate the launch of his new coffee table book, The Collection: Kirk Hammett. Tickets for the “Kirk Hammett The Collection: Live” book events are limited and on sale starting Friday, April 11, at 10:00 AM local time in the following cities and venues, April 25 in Toronto, Ontario at Tiff Lightbox, May 2 in Nashville, TN at Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame, May 10 in Columbus, OH at Columbus Metropolitan Library, May 24 in Philadelphia, PA at The Fillmore, on June 7 in Tampa, FL at TBD, and on June 28 in Denver, CO at TBD. Watch the trailer for the book here, narrated by actor and Metallica superfan Jason Momoa.Continue reading


Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Has “767 New Riffs” Written for The Next Metallica Album, Won’t Record Before 2026


Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett sat for a new interview with Rolling Stone, to promote the upcoming 2025 M72 tour dates and festivals. In that chat he shared that he has 767 new riffs written for the band’s next album. He also stated he is working on his first full length solo album, and that Metallica will continue to tour for one more year behind 2023’s M72 album, touring dates already announced for in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, before the band takes a short break and then begins working on a new album. Hammett said the following:Continue reading


Kirk Hammett Dives Into His Personal Guitar Collection on Gibson TV Show “The Collection”


Metallica guitar legend, Kirk Hammett, has joined Gibson TV host, Mark Agnesi, for a special episode of The Collection show. The Gibson TV series takes viewers on a deep dive into the personal guitar collections of music’s biggest artists. Check out Kirk’s episode below.
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Metallica Adds More Content to the “Orion A Tribute to Cliff Burton” – with Rare Photos and a New Video of “(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth”


 

Metallica’s has added new content to its fifth collection ever, “Orion A Tribute to Cliff Burton!” They just added over 150 Rare & Unseen Photos of Cliff! The band also shared a new video of a live performance of “(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth!” Watch it now! 

 

The band commented: We recently acquired hundreds of photos shot by late photographer Russ Marino in Detroit and Chicago in 1985 and 1986. While a few of the photos got the print treatment in magazines back in the ’80s, the vast majority – many of which are alternate images from the same shoot – are seeing daylight for the first time.

Also included are a handful of photos taken by our old friend Harald O, a heroic illustration by Juan Machado, and a digital copy of So What! Volume 20 – Issue 1 in its entirety for you to enjoy.

 

In case you missed it… the previous two releases featured interviews from close friends and big fans of Cliff. New to this exhibit are extensive conversations with Kirk Hammett, Flemming Rasmussen, Ron Quintana, Harald Oimoen, Death Angel’s Damien Sisson, and Mindforce’s Nick Haines.

This latest exhibition has all kinds of videos, photos, and interviews with Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted, Mike Bordin (Faith No More), David Ellefson (Kings of Thrash/Dieth/ex-Megadeth), Frank Bello of Anthrax, Becky Baldwin (Merciful Fate), Steve DiGiorgio (Testament/Death/Death To All), John Marshall, Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records, Brian Lew (Murder In the Front Row, Super7 Toys), Steffan Chirazi (So What magazine, The Metallica podcast), and so many more. Watch a short video clip of Jason Newsted paying tribute to Cliff! 

 

 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Altar of Oblivion – In The Cesspit Of Divine Decay


 

Of all the sub-genres journalists tend to get blamed for flourishing, Doom is one of the most easily defined. Its tempo is the most distinguishing feature that separates it from the other metal genres that tend to play at more aggressive speeds. Even Doom has now been divided into other sub-genres, one of these being Traditional  Doom, to which bands like Candlemass, Trouble, and Cathedral are assigned. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Apocalyptica – Plays Metallica Vol 2.


Everybody loves covers! Especially covers of iconic songs by great bands. What is better than a single cover version of a classic track, but an entire album of them? What’s even better than that? Well, how about two albums of covers of a bunch of classics!

Yes, we’re talking about Apocalyptica, and we’re talking about Apocalyptica covering Metallica, which they did to great effect on their debut album twenty-five years ago! They have made a career of covering classics in Thrash Metal, introducing thrash fans to classical music on a new scale. while slowly creating their own repertoire of incredible original music, including a few hits along the way. What we often say about cover songs is that there are two approaches to take; a direct copy just redone beat for beat, or making those songs truly your own. Obviously and speaking of the classical metal masters of the Cello from Finland, we are talking reinterpretation. But they ratchet that up significantly on the sequel to their classic debut, Plays Metallica Vol 2., which is releasing via their own new imprint, Throwdown Entertainment.Continue reading


Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo Share Elton John Stories On the Latest Metallica Report Podcast. 


On the latest edition of The Metallica Podcast, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo swapped Elton John and Bernie Taupin stories ahead of the bands’ performance at The Gershwin Awards. The last two episodes focused on their producer and live performance mixer Greg Fidelman. On this weeks’ episode they also discussed their prior appearance on Howard Stern with Miley Cyrus where Elton called “Nothing Else Matters” from The Black Album is “one of the greatest songs ever written,” infamously making James Hetfield cry. The Gershwin Awards. The Gershwin Awards broadcast will air in full on PBS stations and streaming on April 8th, 2024. Metallica soon will embark on leg two of the M72 World Tour!Continue reading


Listen to Kirk Hammett, KJ Doughton, Brian Lew, and Ron Quintana Dive Deep Into Early Thrash on The Latest Metallica Podcast


In the latest episode of the official Metallica Podcast, hosts Stephan and Renee are joined by Kirk Hammett, KJ Doughton, Brian Lew and Ron Quintana to discuss the early era of Metallica, Exodus, Armored Saint, and other thrash and heavy metal inspirations. Listen to the pod here!

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Gibson Custom Shop and Epiphone Team Up with Kirk Hammett of Metallica to Release His Iconic 1979 Flying V, Available Worldwide


For 150 years, Epiphone has been a leading innovator in instrument design. By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into the future, Epiphone has set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. Heavy metal guitars don’t get more iconic than Kirk Hammett’s 1979 Gibson Flying V™. Epiphone is proud to unveil its first official global release and partnership with Kirk Hammett, legendary guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling and GRAMMY® Award-winning band Metallica. In partnership with Gibson Custom Shop, Epiphone is bringing the genre-defining sound of Metallica’s early albums to every stage with the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V – a painstaking recreation of Kirk’s prized original, available in Ebony and Purple Metallic finishes worldwide at the link below!Continue reading


RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW: Metallica’s St. Anger Turns 20


 

As Metallica’s controversial album St. Anger turns twenty years old on June 5th, 2023, guest columnist Nik Cameron (The Glacially Musical Pouredcast) reflects on where this album lands in history. Is it a triumph, as Lars Ulrich wants it to be, or a tragedy? 

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