KIRK HAMMETT Appears To Trace That METALLICA Was Working On One thing

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett just lately sat down with Final Basic Rock to debate every thing about his upcoming solo EP Portals. Hammett was requested why he selected producer Bob Rock to combine the songs as an alternative of typical Metallica engineer Greg Fidelman, and his reply appears to trace that perhaps Metallica was as much as one thing final summer season?

Hammett mentions Fidelman twice, saying he “had his arms full with all types of different Metallica stuff” and “he was as much as his neck in different Metallica commitments.” In fact that could possibly be mixing some reside materials and even engaged on the Load and Reload field units… or perhaps it was new music.

“When it got here time to get the stuff collectively, it was final summer season. Many of the stuff was recorded. However I nonetheless wanted to do a couple of guitar elements right here and there so as to add to the songs. All of it wanted to be combined. The 4 tracks wanted to be combined and I assumed, ‘How am I going to do that?’ You understand, I can not actually journey to the mainland and do all of these items, as a result of I’ve commitments in Hawaii and COVID is going on – however when issues began to open up slightly bit extra too as nicely, I assumed, ‘Wait a second, Bob Rock‘s in Maui. I am right here in Oahu.’ That is a brief flight and I do know that he could be one of the best particular person to do that as a result of he loves guitar and that is all fuckin’ guitar-oriented stuff.

“I imply, it is guitar-dominated. The guitar dominates every thing. I assumed, ‘How about I give Bob a name?’ I did not need to hassle Greg Fidelman, as a result of he had his arms full with all types of different Metallica stuff. I did not actually know who else to name. So you realize, once I thought of Bob, I assumed, ‘That is nice as a result of Bob and I are associates.’ We have now an awesome working relationship. We love the identical stuff. We love the identical guitar gamers, the identical guitars, the identical amps, the identical sorts of music. We have now a historical past and we’re buds.

“So when he came to visit to Honolulu, it was actually cool to see him once more and be working with him once more. You understand, once I see Bob, the beginning of these days had been like this: We would discuss guitars and music for fuckin’ two hours after which say, ‘Oh, shit! We have got to start out working!’ Then we might work. I imply, we simply have a mutual love for this sort of factor. I actually did not have anybody else to name. Like I stated, I might have liked to have had Greg do it, however he was as much as his neck in different Metallica commitments, so Bob was the following greatest man. You understand, he got here via for me and actually helped me out. I’m actually appreciative of that.”