Before he was branded into one of the “BIG FOUR,” or universally known as one of metal’s foremost lead guitarists, and above all, known as Kirk Hammett from Metallica, he was just the young, Latin, fuzzy-haired guitar player of Exodus.
His future changed 40 years ago this week when he was asked to join Metallica, in the turbulent wake of the exiting Dave Mustaine.
Figuring the call was an April Fool’s prank, Hammett responded, “Yeah, right” and then hung up. Whitaker called back and explained Metallica manager Jonny Z wanted him to call Hammett since he was close to both bands. When Hammett asked why Metallica wanted to replace Dave Mustaine, Whitaker said, “He f—ing sucks, man,” according to the biography “Birth School Metallica Death, Vol. 1,” by Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood. “His tone sucks, his playing… He’s a f—ing drunk.”
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