Kirk Hammett says Metallica want to emulate the Rolling Stones and keep touring into their 80s: “That inspiring to us, man. That’s our goal”
Since forming in 1981, Metallica have enjoyed a career at the very apex of heavy metal for over 40 years. But while James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich are all now in their 60s, and Robert Trujillo is close at 59, the quartet have no plans to call it quits any time soon.
In a new interview with Star Tribune, Hammett acknowledges the challenges the passing years have on playing thrash metal, but asserts that, health permitting, the band plan to continue for years to come.
READ MORE: “We weren’t trying to provoke anybody”: Kirk Hammett on why he was surprised by the reaction to Metallica’s evolution on Ride The Lightning
“For two of the guys in the band, the shows take a lot more of a physical toll on their bodies,” he says, presumably talking about frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. “The age thing is definitely a bit of a factor.”
But as the band continue their ongoing M72 World Tour in support of latest album 72 Seasons, Hammett says they look to the Rolling Stones as an example of what’s possible with age.
“The Stones are setting another precedent playing into their 80s,” Hammett said. “That’s inspiring to us, man. That’s our goal.”
The surviving members of the Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger, Kieth Richards and Ronnie Wood – are aged 81, 80 and 77, respectively.
Metallica’s M72 World Tour continues, with support offered from the likes of Ice Nine Kills, Greta Van Fleet, Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, Architects, Volbeat and Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH.
On Mammoth, Hammett says: “Wow, what a guitar player. He just lives and breathes that guitar-playing legacy that his dad created. I’m so, so, so stoked to see that happening.”
In other Metallica news, producer Flemming Rasmussen recalled hearing the mix of …And Justice For All for the first time. “I said, ‘What’s that?’ Lars said, ‘It’s the mix.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not,’” he remembered.
Grab tickets to the M72 World Tour via Metallica’s official website.
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