Kirk Hammett Wields Rock Royalty Guitars: after Greeny, now Schenker’s Flying V
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, renowned for his Greeny Gibson Les Paul with a history tied to Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, is also the custodian of another storied instrument – a red Flying V previously played by Michael Schenker of UFO.
Hammett shared his astonishment with American Songwriter. “It’s crazy, but somehow, some way, how the universe works, I also ended up with the guitar that Michael Schenker played on those albums, the red Flying V. I have two major guitars from my childhood and my teenage years. It freaks me out.”
Greater purpose
Reflecting on the profound impact Schenker had on his musical development, Hammett remarked, “Those first four or five UFO albums, even to this day, I’m listening to them all the time and still learning stuff.” Despite owning these guitars, Hammett feels they serve a greater purpose, particularly Greeny, which he considers “a guitar for the people.”
A conversation with Whit Crane illuminated this sentiment, as Crane observed, “That guitar is your Excalibur… You’re the one that it chose… And now you’re wielding it and look what it does for you.” Hammett embraced the analogy, highlighting the deep connection and sense of responsibility he feels towards these iconic instruments.
