Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal
band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stone's list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.[1] In 2009, Hammett was ranked number 5 in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.
Early life (19621980)
Born on November 18, 1962 in San Francisco to a Filipina mother (Chefela) and an IrishMerchant Marine father. Kirk Hammett attended De Anza High School in Richmond, California. While attending De Anza High School he met Les Claypool of Primus and they remain close friends. After purchasing a 1978 Fender Stratocaster copy, Hammett attempted to customize his sound with various guitar parts, eventually buying a 1974 Gibson Flying V. Hammett also took a job atBurger King as a youth before quitting once he saved enough money for his Marshall amplifier.
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Exodus (19801983)
Hammett's musical interests eventually drew him into the fledgling thrash metal genre. In 1980, he formed the band Exodus with vocalist Paul Baloff, guitarist Gary Holt, bassist Geoff Andrews, and drummer Tom Hunting. He played on Exodus' 1982 Demo. Exodus was a crucial early player in the Bay Area thrash movement.
Metallica (1983present)
Main article: Metallica In 1983, Hammett was invited to join Metallica following the dismissal of the band's original lead guitarist Dave Mustaine. This was just prior to the recording of Kill 'Em All. At the time Hammett, was taking private guitar lessons from the now-famous touring guitarist Joe Satriani.
Kirk Hammett in 2008
Hammett has written and contributed riffs for Metallica songs since the mid-1980s (particularly in the 1990s during the Load album era). One of these riffs, used in "Enter Sandman", became one of Metallica's most popular songs. It was the first track and first single on Metallica's self -
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