Image: Kirk Hammett, Metallica Live In Madrid 2024 [Credit: Bratt Murray]
In an interview with Metal Hammer UK, Kirk Hammett recently spoke about his departure from Exodus to join Metallica and admitted that he felt a bit guilty about it.
Although he has made a name for himself as the lead guitarist of the world's biggest metal band, Metallica, Kirk Hammett's musical career was already well underway before he joined the band in 1983. In 1979, at the tender age of just 16, he founded the Bay Area thrash band Exodus along with singer Paul Baloff, guitarist Tim Agnello, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting.
The Switch to Metallica
But four years later, in 1983, Hammett had to make a serious decision. Before the recording of Metallica's debut album "Kill 'Em All," founding guitarist Dave Mustaine was kicked out of the band due to various behavioral issues and drug abuse. Mustaine then went on to form Megadeth, perhaps Metallica's greatest thrash metal rivals.
When the lead guitarist position became available, Metallica called Kirk Hammett and invited him to audition for the band. Kirk flew to New York a few days later, and the rest is history.
The guitarist speaks in the Metal Hammer UK interview about the “guilt” he felt when he left his first band to join Metallica, but ultimately admitted it was the right decision.
“I have known Tom Hunting since I was 16 years old, I’ve known Gary Holt since I was 17. We’re all close to this day, but there was a lot of guilt there for a while. A little bit of remorse. But I really felt that Metallica was my calling. I feel more comfortable playing in Metallica than I ever did in Exodus, so go figure.”
Hammett's Influence on “Kill 'Em All”
As he further explained, some of the ideas he wrote during his time with Exodus were used on “Kill 'Em All.”
“The [riffs] came from songs that I had written, music that I had written,” he says. “I consider them my parts. I didn’t feel guilty about that, but I did feel guilty about leaving the band I started in high school."
These remarks are particularly interesting since Hammett was never credited as a songwriter for “Kill 'Em All.” The album was officially written by frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, with Mustaine credited for “The Four Horsemen,” “Jump In The Fire,” “Phantom Lord,” and “Metal Militia.” And then, of course, there was “(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth,” which was all the majesty of Cliff Burton.
