Kirk Hammett claims “bad guitar solos” don’t exist anymore: “Everyone is just so much better than they used to be”
As a member of the world’s biggest metal band, Kirk Hammett is no stranger to criticism. The Metallica guitarist shares in a new interview how he deals with negativity over the years as well as his struggles with writer’s block early in his career.
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Speaking with Total Guitar, Hammett reveals that he used to let the writing process get the best of him, feeling so frustrated when things didn’t go well he’d think of “smashing” his guitar.
Asked how he deals with writer’s block these days, the guitarist emphasises the importance of focusing on the present and not letting the past or future distract you.
“Don’t think about the past or what has been done. Don’t think about the future and what you need to do. Just see what you can grab in the moment,” he says.
“That’s how I write music, and it has turned me into a more prolific composer because I don’t get stuck like I used to. I used to get writing blocks for months and months and months, and not write a riff for months, and get frustrated about it, and think about smashing my guitar. That doesn’t happen anymore.”
Hammett adds that he has since learned to brush off negativity, noting that if a band is actively touring and recording, it’s a testament to their skill.
“My attitude is that if you’re out there and you’re touring, and you’re making albums, and you’re recording, there is no way you suck,” he says. “And so I can’t stop being bewildered by all these people who say, ‘This guy sucks! That guy sucks!’ Hey, I’ve got news for you — you don’t get to where you’re at if you fucking suck! Okay?”
“These people are talking on 10 percent of what they see in all of these people musically. It’s incredible. I don’t think anyone really sucks.”
In fact, the musician argues that “bad guitar solos” are virtually non-existent today, explaining: “I don’t think bad guitar solos even exist anymore because everyone is just so much better than they used to be. Like, in the ’60s there were bad guitar solos. You would find them in pop songs, where you’d go, ‘Urgh! Nice try. Next!’ But that’s the past, and that’s a good thing.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
