Hammett Names Surprising Guitarist Who Influenced 'Kill 'Em All'

Released in 1983, Metallica’s first LP – Kill ‘Em All – is one of the most influential thrash/speed metal albums of all time. In a recent interview with the Metal Mayhem ROC podcast, Kirk Hammett revealed that late UFO guitarist Paul Chapman indirectly shaped how he approached Kill “Em All.

Two months prior, Chapman’s daughter – Brittany – appeared on the present and talked about how excited Hammett was to satisfy her father a few years in the past. When prompted to “share a narrative” about Chapman, Hammett displays:

I imply, you already know, I’d by no means seen UFO with [guitarist] Michael Schenker. The very first time I’d seen UFO – who’s my favourite band of all time – it was with Paul Chapman. I confirmed up slightly skeptical to that gig, however then I noticed Paul play on stage and it blew me away. Then, I simply realized it wasn’t honest to check [him] to Michael Schenker. They’re two completely different gamers! Completely completely different gamers.

I used to be simply so into the whole lot that he did with UFO, however I’d by no means gotten an opportunity to satisfy him. I’d met everybody else in UFO – Michael, you already know, and the entire different guys – however for some cause, I by no means received an opportunity to satisfy Paul Chapman till that point we had been in Florida. I used to be so excited as a result of I felt like I used to be lastly closing that circle of assembly everybody who was instrumental in shaping UFO’s sound and albums.

So, yeah, once I met him, I used to be so stoked ‘cause I can play a lot of his stuff. I can play a lot of Paul Chapman’s guitar licks. It’s not simply Michael Schenker licks that I play; I play a number of Paul Chapman licks, too, and I assume that is the very first time I’ve ever copped to this. [That’s] particularly [true] on ‘Kill ‘Em All.’ There’s, like, Paul Chapman licks all all through ‘Kill ‘Em All.’

I bear in mind hanging out with him in Florida and I stated, “What do you do nowadays?” and he goes, “Oh, you know. I play in local bands and I give guitar lessons.” For a second, I believed, ‘Maybe I should get a guitar lesson from him’ [Laughs]. I’m the largest [UFO] fan on the earth.

You can watch the complete clip under.

READ MORE: Robert Trujillo Is Ready to Sing for Metallica Again

Of course, Hammett has been fairly open about his love for UFO over the past a number of a long time. Luckily, he was in a position to play with them on stage again in October of 2019 (to carry out “Doctor Doctor” and “Shoot Shoot”).

Tragically, Chapman – who first joined UFO in 1974 and remained intermittently till 1983 – handed away on June 9, 2020. Ironically, it was additionally his 66th birthday, and inside a number of days, quite a few friends and followers (together with Motorhead’s Phil Campbell and Arch Enemy’s Michael Amott) shared remembrances and condolences on social media.

In associated information, Hammett’s controversial remarks concerning “non-musicians” forgetting guitar solos just lately drew criticism from guitarist Angel Vivaldi. In truth, Vivaldi even claimed that Hammett is “why guitar solos are dying!”

As for different members of Metallica, James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo chatted about their favourite new and basic songs to play reside. Papa Het additionally supplied up an uplifting message – in addition to some future objectives – as he heads into 2024.

So, had been you already conscious of Chapman’s affect on Kill ‘Em All, or does the revelation come as a complete surprise? Let us know!