It’s about time that the metal community gives Kirk Hammett a well-deserved break. While employing familiar techniques, potentially repetitive, he’s enhanced iconic metal tracks with soulful guitar solos and intense wah pedal devotion. Before pressing his pedal, Hammett found himself captivated by UFO’s mesmerizing sounds, preceding others’ appreciation.
Before Metallica’s rise to fame, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal dominated the music scene. The thrash scene’s California origins shouldn’t overshadow the influence of bands like Diamond Head and Saxon. It was thanks to these bands that Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield found each other and began their musical journey together.
When Hammett was initially crafting his early melodies, he recalled that a pivotal moment occurred when he discovered UFO. He excitedly shared with Gibson, “That’s when I first heard UFO.” In the year 1979, a sudden sound caught my attention, fulfilling my search. It had a weight and intensity that surpassed anything being produced in America. Afterward, I stumbled upon a plethora of other bands emerging from Europe.
Given that the majority of rock radio stations were exclusively playing Pink Floyd and Aerosmith during that period, it must have been quite a jarring experience for a young child. Coming across albums like Force It or Lights Out would have been a stark contrast. There were previous instances of loud guitars in rock music. However, Michael Schenker managed to achieve a significantly more aggressive tone with his Flying V guitar. This surpassed anything else that was currently available.
Despite UFO having a repertoire of fantastic songs during that period, they never quite received the same level of recognition as their contemporaries. Perhaps it was due to their unconventional approach. Alternatively, Scorpions‘ success may have overshadowed it, stealing most of the limelight in the European rock scene.
Hammett’s feelings towards the band remained strong as the years went by. In contrast to Hetfield’s licks for the band, Hammett’s riffs seemed to flow effortlessly. He seemed to draw from Schenker’s style and adapt it to a metal band, akin to how Gary Moore might’ve approached metal instead of blues.
Despite Metallica’s admiration for UFO, they surprisingly did not include any of their songs in their extensive covers album Garage Inc. Instead, they chose to cover a significant portion of Diamond Head’s debut album. If Hammett couldn’t have his preferred choice of artists in the studio, he determined to have them on the live stage.
Reflecting on some of his most memorable moments during Metallica shows, Hammett would incorporate a few UFO references into his songs. Hammett owes his presence to the influence of a band like UFO. He is deeply passionate about them, going to great lengths to promote their music, understanding their crucial popularity.
