Quick Facts
| Canonical Name | Kirk Hammett |
| Born | November 18, 1962 |
| Birthplace | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Country | United States |
| Occupations | guitarist, songwriter, rock musician, composer |
| Instruments | guitar |
| Gender | male |
| Genres | thrash metal, american, heavy metal, metal |
| Associated Acts | Metallica |
| Active Years | Active since 1979 |
Identity and Aliases
Biography
Kirk Hammett is an American guitarist, songwriter, rock musician and composer best known for his work with Metallica. Born in San Francisco, California, he has been active since 1979 and is closely associated with thrash metal and heavy metal.
Hammett’s career is tied to guitar-driven metal, with Metallica standing at the center of his public profile. He has also been linked with Exodus, The Wedding Band, Maxwell House Ranch Band, Spastik Children, GAK, and Mick Fleetwood and Friends, reflecting a wide range of band associations across his career.
Alongside his performing work, Hammett is also credited as a composer and has been listed as a teacher of Joe Satriani.
Career Timeline
Musical Roles
Hammett is primarily a guitarist, with credits that also include songwriter, rock musician and composer. His work is associated with thrash metal and heavy metal, and guitar remains his central instrument.
Bands and Projects
Releases and Appearances
MusicBrainz lists several release entries connected to Kirk Hammett. These entries may include solo releases, guest appearances, live recordings, and catalogued metadata records.
MusicBrainz-listed Releases and Appearances
Recorded Performances & Appearances
MusicBrainz-listed recording entries connected to Kirk Hammett include:
Musical Style and Instruments
Hammett’s musical profile is rooted in thrash metal and heavy metal, with an emphasis on guitar-led playing. His credits point to a metal-focused style with room for broader rock and composer-oriented work.
Genres
Instruments
Collaborations and Guest Relationships
External Identifiers & Authority Control
Kirk Hammett is associated with profiles and identifiers across services including MusicBrainz, Discogs and Spotify.
Semantic Graph Data (Knowledge Graph)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Kirk Hammett best known for playing with?
A: He is best known for his work with Metallica. That association is central to his public musical identity.
Q: What is Kirk Hammett’s main instrument?
A: His primary instrument is guitar. His career is built around guitar playing.
Q: Where was Kirk Hammett born?
A: He was born in San Francisco, California, United States.
Q: What genres is Kirk Hammett associated with?
A: He is associated with thrash metal and heavy metal, along with broader metal and rock references.
Q: What kind of musical work is Kirk Hammett credited with?
A: He is credited as a guitarist, songwriter, rock musician and composer. Those roles reflect both performance and writing.
Q: Which other bands has Kirk Hammett been linked to?
A: He has been linked with Exodus, The Wedding Band, Maxwell House Ranch Band, Spastik Children, GAK and Mick Fleetwood and Friends.
Q: What is one release connected to Kirk Hammett?
A: Portals is one MusicBrainz-listed release connected to him. Salt the Wound and High Plains Drifter are also listed.
Q: When was Kirk Hammett born?
A: He was born on November 18, 1962.