Horror and Heavy Metal: Metallica’s Kirk Hammett Opens Up About His Monster-Sized Collection
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett appears to have a remakable passion: horror. At just five years old his life changed forever when he watched Day of the Triffids. This British horror film sparked a passion that would grow into an impressive collection of horror memorabilia.
“It moved something inside of me that didn’t happen when I watched cartoons or Disney features”, Hammett reveals. “It was something that resonated inside me and I wanted to watch more and more horror movies.”
The Perfect Time for Horror and Metal
Growing up in the 1970s allowed Hammett to dive deep into horror movies and heavy metal. For just 50 cents, he could watch three films at his local theater, usually horror, kung fu, or exploitation movies.
As Metal Hammer writes in their exclusive interview, Hammett’s collection briefly paused when he discovered music and started playing guitar. However, once he began earning money with Metallica, his passion for horror collectibles reignited with full force.
Why Horror and Metal Go Hand in Hand
“A good heavy metal song is like a good horror movie, and vice versa”, Hammett explains. “Heavy metal sounds evil and horror movies are evil!” However, don’t expect him to enjoy just any horror film. The guitarist specifically avoids movies with gratuitous violence, preferring supernatural and demonic themes instead.
While a new Metallica album is on the horizon, Hammett’s horror collection continues to grow. His book Too Much Horror Business showcases his impressive collection, though he admits many items didn’t make it into the publication. “I hope that other monster kids out there will see this one, and hopefully it’ll transport them to a place that’s magical for them”, he shares.
