Kirk Hammett revealed in an interview with Total Guitar Metallica 's new album , 72 Seasons (2023). The project is the band's 11th album.
“I improvised about 30 solos and passed them on to Lars Ulrich and Greg Fidelman to edit. I know I’m going to play something completely different live. So, when you buy a ticket to a show, you won’t hear the album versions,” the guitarist said last Friday, the 5th.
“Live, I fully intend to play each solo from this work differently. If you watch old videos of Ritchie Blackmore , Jeff Beck, and Michael Schenker , they weren’t playing the solos from the album; they were playing whatever they wanted. I love that because it’s a moment of true honesty.”
Kirk Hammett further detailed his creative process and influences: “First and foremost, I’m an improvisational musician. Everything you do is practically improvisation. Any composition is improvisation. Writing melodies is improvising. Improvising is playing guitar.”
“I’ve been obsessed with AC/DC Angus and Malcolm Young ’s guitar tones , their whole approach. I don’t talk about it much because it’s a very common thing. Everyone is impressed by AC/DC.”
“But I’ve always been amazed by Angus’s guitar style because it’s the perfect combination of blues, hard rock, and boogie. He has a lot of humor in his playing, but it’s very, very intense. Angus is very organic. You know he’s not thinking about what the guitar magazines are going to say. He just goes and does what he wants, and I love that.”
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