EddieMoney

I'm sure Hetfield could have written and played far better solos. He's a better guitar player anyway.

VHS?

Bob Rock kinda had to push Kirk to do better solos on the black album.
In SKOM movie, he seemed to say solos were not necessary and people really made too much a big deal of them.

Hazel Motes

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I'm just saying I don't think it will ever happen. I mean unless it's a Malcolm Young thing or he develops arthritis or something. But I can't picture a scenario playing out that would lead to the news headline "Kirk Hammet kicked out of Metallica". I could be wrong, but I just don't see it.

Why So Blu?

Kirk also has a vested interest in the business side of things, so as shitty as his solos may sound, he has power within the band regardless of his (in-depth or not_ contributions. He ain't going nowheres.

inri222

Hetfield may be good at songwriting and rhythm guitar but he is not a better lead guitarist than Hammet, especially from a technical standpoint.

EddieMoney

What I mean is that he is a much better at what he does (rhythm) than Hammett is (lead), and I tend to think he could have written and played better solos than the improvised junk Hammett did on this album.

Listening through all of the Metallica albums recently, it sounds like Hammett's skills have diminished over the years. And any trace of creativity is gone. Just fingers flying up and down the fretboard with no structure and hitting that Wah pedal constantly.

slop101

That, and I think he doesn't care so much any more - he's not making any more money if he nails a killer solo than if he just dials one in, especially since he's not credited with any songwriting.

inri222

Exactly, he knows his place in the Hetfield/Ulrich show and just doesn't care. I have been in bands for 31 years and when you feel like a replaceable hired hand all you do is go through the motions.

islandclaws

Kirk gave an interview recently where he basically said he didn't contribute much to this record and it kinda sucked so he just went in and did his thing, like it's a 9-5 he's shuffling through.

Improvised, poorly written, abstract... whatever you wanna call his solos on this record the bottom line is they're terrible.

Josh-da-man

Yeah, I think Hammet's at a point in his life where he's rich, set for life, and doesn't give a fuck. For a while he's seemed kind of bored and disinterested in the band, which is Larz and Jaymz' baby, anyway. All he has to do is noodle around on a guitar in a studio every ten years, travel the world, and go up on stage for a few hours every couple of days, and rake in millions.

gerrythedon

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THM_rOlCDZk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gR7okQwA9lk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

gerrythedon

great interview with LARS

Lars Ulrich on Talk Is Jericho - EP310
http://www.podcastone.com/pg/jsp/pro...93&pid=1697103

EddieMoney

Kirk looks like he's hardwired to tear up the dance floor to some Trammps.

Rival11

I'm definitely not talking shit as I couldn't play an instrument to save my life but a lot of the remarks in this thread have me laughing my ass off - do you guys honestly even know what you're talking about (I'm seriously asking as well)? It sounds like, without question, that you can play better than the boys in metallica - can you post some videos of your skills?

Again, I'm not being a smart ass - if you can do better I seriously would like to hear/see it.

inri222

Can Roger Ebert make a film better than David Lynch? How dare he give Blue Velvet & Lost Highway a one star rating.

bunkaroo

Inri222 got it right.

You don't have to be a world class chef to know if a chef serves you something that tastes awful.

That said, I play in a band with a guy who is much better on guitar than Kirk is today, but that's not a fair comparison IMO. Kirk is the product of his influences from a different time period. My guitarist is in his early 30's and has had the luxury of becoming a guitarist when there was a lot more info out there on how to be a good technician as well as a soloist. He also has hours every day to practice (or used to), which probably hasn't been the case for Kirk in a very long time.

Here's a clip of him playing a solo from our first record.



I have no doubt he could have produced better solos for Metallica's new record than Kirk did, both from a melodic and a technical perspective.

Rival11

inri - I know what you're getting at but there is HUGE difference between giving your review on something and questioning the technical aspects of something.

I'll have to watch the video later as my work blocks all streaming and my phone isn't pulling it in right now either - thanks for posting it though as I am curious.

Yes, I know it's all subjective as well - I may not like your friends playing at all or I may love it but either way, I can only base my opinion on what I like and will need to keep my mouth shut on the technical - unless it sound like shoes in a dryer.

bunkaroo

That solo is a little on the notey side but not too bad. There's another solo from the end of the same song which has a lot more "feel" to it. Certainly not here to shill for my band - just making an example. There are literally 1000's of guys out there who can play better than what Kirk is currently doing.

inri222

I have been playing in various bands for over 30 years. I play bass but here is a video of the lead guitarist of a band I was in up until the beginning of this year.
It's of him jamming with a friend on a Slayer cover.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DQELJfRTogY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

bunkaroo

Hanneman and King in one package!

Rival11

Lol after watching that video...ok, yeah you guys can talk all the shit you want then - skills

gerrythedon

James as always awesome interview

Joe Rogan Experience #887 - James Hetfield


<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5O6QPTawR14" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

slop101

Hammett, showing off some of his guitar soloing...

Hazel Motes

the more these guys do interviews with people that want to have a real conversation, the more I like these guys. Between this and the Chris Jericho Podcast, Lars and James seem like such down to earth dudes. Like I can't picture Mick Jagger and Keith Richards sitting down and having these kind of frank conversations. Not a lot of rock stars would dream of opening themselves up like that.

gerrythedon

After seeing that the one with KEVIN SMITH was 4 Hours, I wanted to hear James & Joe go on and on. I found out stuff I never knew about. Glad you enjoyed it, that's why I posted it along with the LARS one cause they're great interviews and wanted others here to find time and listen to them. And this was my first JOE ROGAN listen/view, gonna have to find other people he interview that I like and listen to those.