Metallica's Kirk Hammett feels “weird vindication” over fighting for guitar solos on “St. Anger”

Dan Weir

7 years ago

ABC/Randy Holmes

ABC/Randy HolmesThe recording of Metallica‘s 2003 album St. Anger was fraught with intra-band drama, as documented in the film Some Kind of Monster. One of the many points of contention among the band members was the absence of guitar solos on the album, an idea guitarist Kirk Hammett was against. Speaking now with Metal Hammer, Hammett stands by his argument that St. Anger should have had solos.

“I guess it was appropriate for the time, but looking back, it doesn’t seem so appropriate to me now!” Hammett says.

“I will always object to that, but I think the message was driven home after that album, that solos are needed in Metallica!” he continues. “People look forward to hearing them. So for me there was a weird vindication.”

Luckily, there are plenty of solos on Metallica’s most recent album, Hardwired…to Self-Destruct. The metal legends will kick off a U.S. tour in support of the album in September.