How bad is Kirk Hammett - let's be honest.

[crankyrayhanky]

I like the solo's on Kill Em All

I think Mustaine wrote them all all demoes

 

[squank]

I really don't get this weird idea that some of you have that you can't be critical of a guitarist's playing unless you are also a successful pro guitarist yourself. It makes absolutely no sense.


Have any of you guys criticized a poorly performing pro football player? But wait, if you don't play in the NFL, how can you criticize an NFL player? It's total silliness.

 

[IndyWS6]

I don't think he stole a career - I think he earned it the old-fashioned way. With blackmail.

I think he has naked pictures of James with a goat. A boy goat...

 

[spanny]

You know somewhere Kirk Hammett is crying while reading this, wiping away his tears with $100 bills.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Here's a question. You're a guitar player and you wrote all the songs and you sing, you're the leader of the band. You need a drummer and there's a guy who's a technical wizard but has a reputation for being a dickbag. He doesn't get along well with others and has a negative outlook towards other bands and musicians. Then there's another guy who is good enough to fill the position, he's not the best out there but can play all the songs. He likes to hang out and bullshit stories, is fun to party with, and can take negative criticism, and has a reputation that he's generally cool to be around.

Who do you want in your band? There's a lot more to it than vibrato ability.

 

[Aristocat]

Here's a question. You're a guitar player and you wrote all the songs and you sing, you're the leader of the band. You need a drummer and there's a guy who's a technical wizard but has a reputation for being a dickbag. He doesn't get along well with others and has a negative outlook towards other bands and musicians. Then there's another guy who is good enough to fill the position, he's not the best out there but can play all the songs. He likes to hang out and bullshit stories, is fun to party with, and can take negative criticism, and has a reputation that he's generally cool to be around.

Who do you want in your band? There's a lot more to it than vibrato ability.

Good post on all points.

 

[MikeDV]

Why the hating? He's the perfect guitar player - for Metallica. They'd be different without him right? I've heard him try to play outside of his style (blues type stuff), and I thought he wasn't very good. However, the Morse/Bonamassa (plenty of others) type of player that can play virtually any kind of style convincingly - could even make a career in most styles - is not the norm. Robben Ford in Metallica? Yuck. Somebody above said it best - he's the lead guitar player in one of the more successful bands around. He should definitely quit.

 

[Mailman1971]

And while a guy like Guthrie Govan is a billion times better than Kirk....what would you rather listen to, a metal song or boring elevator music?

For sure! Still looking at Metallica Tabs to play new songs with my Drummer...
and still have no idea who the hell Guthrie is nor do I care.
But wasnt he the guy that played Jethro on the Beverly Hill Billies?

 

[blackba]

I really don't get this weird idea that some of you have that you can't be critical of a guitarist's playing unless you are also a successful pro guitarist yourself. It makes absolutely no sense.


Have any of you guys criticized a poorly performing pro football player? But wait, if you don't play in the NFL, how can you criticize an NFL player? It's total silliness.

It all depends on why folks are criticizing. If its to make themselves feel better about themselves, than that is lame. I see about every band/musician get ragged on in forums, it gets old. It just comes off as a bunch of haters.

I think the original post was valid and asked reasonable questions, but the thread went down hill into a typical Metallica Kirk rip fest from there.

 

[squank]

I really don't get this weird idea that some of you have that you can't be critical of a guitarist's playing unless you are also a successful pro guitarist yourself. It makes absolutely no sense.


Have any of you guys criticized a poorly performing pro football player? But wait, if you don't play in the NFL, how can you criticize an NFL player? It's total silliness.

It all depends on why folks are criticizing. If its to make themselves feel better about themselves, than that is lame. I see about every band/musician get ragged on in forums, it gets old. It just comes off as a bunch of haters.

I think the original post was valid and asked reasonable questions, but the thread went down hill into a typical Metallica Kirk rip fest from there.

Agreed.

 

[animal]

maybe the guys hating could throw up a clip of the solo to dyers eve or something....should be pretty easy right?
you want to talk luck how about mike mccready and kim thaiyl lol

 

[Badronald]

Why the hating? He's the perfect guitar player - for Metallica. They'd be different without him right? I've heard him try to play outside of his style (blues type stuff), and I thought he wasn't very good. However, the Morse/Bonamassa (plenty of others) type of player that can play virtually any kind of style convincingly - could even make a career in most styles - is not the norm. Robben Ford in Metallica? Yuck. Somebody above said it best - he's the lead guitar player in one of the more successful bands around. He should definitely quit.

Agreed about Robben Ford in Metallica. That wouldn't have worked.
Robben was much better in Kiss.

 

[155]

The guys in Trivium said they had a Zakk Wylde drinking game. Put on a Black Label song and take a sip of beer every time you hear a pinch harmonic! They were drunk after 1 song. [/quote]
bahahaa!

 

[Heritage Softail]

Kirk seems to have a handle on how to be the lead guitarist in the most popular meal band of all time. He is able to tour the world for years on end, entertaining millions of fans, while getting along with his band mates.

I saw Death Magnetic tour. Still bringing it with a packed arena.

Not sure where 'bad' really fits in there as a suitable descriptor. Maybe living legend is better. Metallica is legendary, no doubt.

Now on the other hand.... I can't stand Celine Dion. The voice, the dramatic poses, the horse face....

But no way I would ever say she is anything but an excellent performer to her fans.

Sanitarium is still one cool song. And Sad But True is the one where the crowd drowns out the band when played live. Just so many perfect rock/metal songs.

 

[Schaf]

Ok, first of all, I'm not -

a; Some idiotic basement guitarist as some have guessed. I actually make my living from playing guitar (Playing in 4 bands and teaching Mon- Thurs).
b; Jealous of Kirk's position/playing and want to attack him because of it. Sure, I'd LOVE to play in such a huge band and I'm happy with my own playing, even though I always think I could improve loads!
c; a Metallica hater. It was because I've been watching the awesome Live Shit '89 and '92 vids and his playing was really grating on me throughout.

Spare me the arguement of "Well let's see you sell 100 million albums and play in one of the world's most successful bands". Just because I'm not doing that, doesn't mean I can't criticise it.

But just watch this from 1989 from the start of his attempt at 'Little Wing' intro and solo at about 3.07 and tell me it sounds decent. I'll tell you what I hear - a basic, 'just about passable' go at the intro, then awful out of tune bends in solo with that 'weird' vib of his.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk9Um1tDAxM

I did like the point someone mentioned about how he doubles one of the best rhythm players around and that's a great point which I never thought of. In every interview I've seen with him, he seems like a really cool guy as well and very grounded which must be difficult after having so much constant success and criticism from hacks like me

I respect your opinion, but because he can't play little wing, his whole body of work is completely tossed aside? Little wing is about the last thing I want anybody except Hendrix play and that aint going to happen. Not sure what this proves?

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

Metallica doesnt need a Malmsteen

Kirk can match master James rythmn playing so he cant be all that bad

 

[Schaf]

Here's a question. You're a guitar player and you wrote all the songs and you sing, you're the leader of the band. You need a drummer and there's a guy who's a technical wizard but has a reputation for being a dickbag. He doesn't get along well with others and has a negative outlook towards other bands and musicians. Then there's another guy who is good enough to fill the position, he's not the best out there but can play all the songs. He likes to hang out and bullshit stories, is fun to party with, and can take negative criticism, and has a reputation that he's generally cool to be around.

Who do you want in your band? There's a lot more to it than vibrato ability.

He's right. There way more to being in a band than being a great musician. I've seen many bands with great musicians make a mediocre band. But, I've seen more medicore musicians make good bands. It's a lot about chemistry.

Nothing worse than spending 6 months on the road and seeing a douchebag you don't really like every day.

Personally, I like Kirk's playing. I think it fits what they do. I really don't listen to more recent stuff. I was pretty much done by the black album. But then again, I don't like people badmouthing artists. Even if I don't like the music I try to see how their contributions fit the band and the music they play and judge from that.

And, it was actually out of charactor for me to verbally attack that douchebag that was in here the other day talking about Sinister Gates. It was obvious the guy couldn't play well enough to make a judgement about how another person plays. It bothers me when people bag on other musicians. I'm pretty sure that the guys in A7F have seen their lean times. They had the balls to put everything in life aside and go for it. You have to respect them for that. And just because I was never able to live my dream, I'm not going to rain on someone elses. Some people can't get past that. Since they either gave up or didn't have the balls in the first place, they have to put everyone down. It's BS

 

[Moshaholic]

I was there from day one and I have said it before and I'll say it again...

"Metallica died with Cliff Burton"

The first three albums are ground breaking "underground metal magic"...

They were brutal and honest and James & Kirks playing were stellar and bleeding edge AFAIC.

RTL & MOP are pure master pieces that can never be matched by the remaining members in 10 life times and set a new standard for metal.

Standing in front of "Music Plus" in LA first thing in the morning waiting for it to open with a crowd of thrash heads to grab MOP the first day it was released (on vinyl and cassette only) is day I will never forget.

The original Garage Days with the Diamond Head cover is the only other notable release IMO.

After that bus accident there was no more magic or Metallica.

"RIP Cliff & Metallica"

 

[crankyrayhanky]

It all depends on why folks are criticizing. If its to make themselves feel better about themselves, than that is lame.

No no, we're all offering our thoughts in order to help Kirk improve, like an intervention

 

[Mailman1971]

Been jammin some Master of Puppets "sanitarium" lately...
shit was sicking good...
Call me stuck in the past....but man they Brang the heat back when the fire burning.