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

Launched in 1983, Metallica’s first LP – Kill ‘Em All – is among the most influential thrash/velocity metallic albums of all time. In a latest interview with the Metallic Mayhem ROC podcast, Kirk Hammett revealed that late UFO guitarist Paul Chapman not directly formed 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 understand, 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 a bit 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 totally different gamers! Fully totally different gamers.

I used to be simply so into all the things 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 understand, and the entire different guys – however for some purpose, I by no means obtained an opportunity to satisfy Paul Chapman till that point we have 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 ‘trigger I can play a number of his stuff. I can play a number 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 keep in mind hanging out with him in Florida and I mentioned, “What do you do these days?” and he goes, “Oh, you understand. I play in native bands and I give guitar classes.” For a second, I believed, ‘Perhaps I ought to get a guitar lesson from him’ [Laughs]. I’m the largest [UFO] fan on this planet.

You may watch the complete clip beneath.

READ MORE: Robert Trujillo Is Able to Sing for Metallica Once more

In fact, Hammett has been fairly open about his love for UFO during the last a number of many years. Fortunately, he was in a position to play with them on stage again in October of 2019 (to carry out “Physician Physician” and “Shoot Shoot”).

Tragically, Chapman – who first joined UFO in 1974 and remained intermittently till 1983 – handed away on June 9, 2020. Sarcastically, 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 relating to “non-musicians” forgetting guitar solos just lately drew criticism from guitarist Angel Vivaldi. In actual fact, 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 traditional songs to play stay. Papa Het additionally provided up an uplifting message – in addition to some future targets – as he heads into 2024.

So, have been you already conscious of Chapman’s affect on Kill ‘Em All, or does the revelation come as an entire shock? Tell us!