Kirk Hammett

Kirk Lee Hammett is an American musician. Hammett has been the lead guitarist of heavy metal band Metallica since 1983; prior to joining Metallica, he co-formed thrash metal band Exodus in 1979. In 2023, Hammett and Metallica bandmate James Hetfield were co-ranked 23rd on Rolling Stone’s list of Greatest Guitarists of All Time. In 2009, Hammett was ranked number 15 in Joel McIver’s book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.