10 Mind-Blowing Facts You Never Knew About Metallica

7. Kirk Hammett Got Guitar Lessons From Joe Satriani

Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs on the National Mall in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014, during the Concert for Valor. The Veterans Day event is hosted by HBO, Starbucks and Chase and is free and open to the public. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Before Metallica was formed, Kirk Hammett was a member of the band Exodus. During his formative years, he sought instruction from one of rock music’s premier guitar virtuosos: Joe Satriani.

The electric maestro gave Hammett lessons in 1981 which Hammett says were incredibly important in improving his musical ability. In an interview this year for Canadian radio station CFOX, Hammett said of his mentor: “Ever since I first met him, he’s always played incredibly — with all the sounds and all the bar stuff and tapping and crazy licks that no one’s ever played, and still probably never plays. I mean, he’s just such a unique individual as a musician.”

From one legend to another, Satriani was a big influence on the soon-to-be Metallica guitarist – something which the mild mannered Hammett hasn’t forgotten to this day.

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Contributor

Music Journalism graduate and freelance writer from Northern Ireland, who enjoys scouring the music archives for the best sounds from the past and present. Writer for the awesome publications WhatCulture, Metal Injection, Scribol, The Gamer, and Prefix.