Metallica's KIRK HAMMETT Recalls Struggling With 'The Unforgiven': 'I Wasn't Prepared For It'

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is known for writing some of the band’s most famous guitar parts, but not every one came easy.

In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, he opened up about the difficulties he faced while working on the solo for “The Unforgiven”, one of the standout tracks from the band’s 1991 self-titled release, often called “The Black Album.”

Hammett said he wasn’t ready for the change in direction that producer Bob Rock was asking for. Rock wanted something more direct, a solo that didn’t meander or follow the band’s usual thrash style.

“I just wasn’t prepared for some of the things,” Hammett admitted. “Like the solo in ‘The Unforgiven’, that’s been pretty well documented. Same with ‘My Friend of Misery.’”

Despite the rough start, Hammett said that once the “Unforgiven” solo came together, it felt right. It was spontaneous, not overthought. That experience left an impression on him and influenced how he approached guitar parts afterward.

“Because the solo came out so naturally, it made me want to do all the others like that from then on,” he said.

The process behind The Black Album was different in many ways. The band worked with a new producer and leaned into more streamlined song structures. Hammett says the result pushed him creatively, even if it came with challenges.

This isn’t the first time he’s reflected on his work from that era. While he often says his best overall performance came on The Black Album, his favorite solo comes from a different track entirely: “Hero of the Day” from 1996’s Load.

Hammett joined Metallica in 1983, just before the band recorded their debut album Kill ’Em All. He’s remained part of the group ever since, contributing to every studio album. In 2022, he released his first solo EP titled “Portals.”

Over the years, he’s worked with artists like Carlos Santana and Michael Schenker, but it’s his time with Metallica that fans know best. Even decades later, stories from the Black Album sessions continue to surface, offering new insight into how those classic songs came together.

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