Kirk Hammett

An elite heavy metal guitarist whose fleet, ferocious, and fluid playing style helped define the Bay Area thrash sound, Kirk Hammett co-founded speed/thrash luminaries Exodus before becoming the lead guitarist for Metallica. Making his debut on 1983's Kill 'Em All, Hammett has appeared on every one of the group's albums and has written some of their most iconic riffs, including 1991's platinum-certified "Enter Sandman." In 2022, Hammett issued his debut solo effort, Portals, a wide-ranging set of cinematic instrumentals that pair virtuosic shredding with eerie, orchestral soundscapes.