Kirk Hammett of Metallica Wants to Release Solo Album

photo credit: Mauricio Alvarado

As reported by Loudwire, Kirk Hammett is interested in releasing solo album at some point in the future. While Metallica is currently touring the world in support of their latest release, Hardwired…to Self Destruct, Hammett still has plenty of musical ideas recorded that do not fit with the furious thrash metal of his main band. Hammett revealed this to Metal Hammer in a recent interview, remarking: “I have so much material sitting around that’s obviously not Metallica stuff, and that pile gets bigger and bigger. One of these days when it feels right…” he said. “I still feel I have so much to give Metallica. When that feels more complete, maybe I’ll think about doing that other stuff.”

No current member of Metallica has released a solo album, partially due to frontman James Hetfield’s insistence that no bandmember do any side projects or solo work. This attitude caused considerable friction with former bassist Jason Newsted and was one of the main reasons why he left the band back in 2001. While Hetfield has relented since then, Metallica remains such a large draw on the touring circuit that it would be difficult for Hammett to get away for long enough to record a full solo album. Even 35+ years into their career, Metallica is still an unstoppable live force, continually blowing away fans across the world with bombastic stage show and carefully crafted setlists.

Metallica is currently prepping a massive reissue of their classic 1988 album …And Justice for All later this year.

Photo credit Mauricio Alvarado

Andy Lindquist: Music news writer at mxdwn.com. Part of the mxdwn team since 2017. I have been writing about music for some time now and also play in an pop/rock band. I have a BA in rhetoric from UC Berkeley. Born and raised in the San Francisco bay area and still currently living out on the eastern side of the bay.
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