10 Most Important Member Changes In Rock Music History
4. Kirk Hammett Replaces Dave Mustaine - Metallica
Now, we're cheating ever so slightly on this one as technically Dave Mustaine left Metallica before their first album was released.
However, if you check the credits on Kill 'Em All, you'll find his name next to a few songs.
That's because Mustaine was the band's original guitarist and helped contribute to the album during its early stages. Then, he was fired from the group for excessive drug taking and alleged violent behaivour.
Whoops.
So Mustaine was gone, but his influence can still be felt on the debut album. He's credited on the songs The Four Horsemen, Jump in the Fire, Phantom Lord, and Metal Militia. All the others - that's pure Hammett, baby!
Kirk Hammett was recruited from a band called Exodus and fit right into the established line-up. He contributed guitar parts to the entire rest of the album and has remained a constant fixture of Metallica ever since.
Just don't ask Mustaine about him - the scorned ex-guitarist once claimed Hammett "stole" his job.
Don't feel too bad for him though, as he went on to found the band Megadeth and do rather well for himself there.