METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett brought his passion for vintage guitars to Frankfurt, Germany in a very personal way: on May 23, he hosted a live book launch event at Zoom Saal titled "The Collection: Live — A Conversation With Kirk Hammett," celebrating his new 400-page coffee table book documenting his legendary guitar collection. The evening turned into something truly special when bassist Robert Trujillo made a surprise appearance, joining Hammett for an impromptu jam session.
The book, published by Gibson Publishing, is a visually stunning deep-dive into Hammett's extraordinary collection of rare and historically significant instruments, shot by legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin. Among the guitars featured are Hammett's iconic 1979 Gibson Flying V and "Greeny" — the mythical 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard once owned by FLEETWOOD MAC's Peter Green and later THIN LIZZY's Gary Moore, now one of the most storied instruments in rock and metal history.
The Frankfurt book event was organized as part of METALLICA's M72 world tour "weekend takeovers" — a series of off-day cultural events in each city the band visits, designed to deepen the connection with local fans beyond the concert experience. Actor Jason Momoa narrated a video teaser for the book's release, noting that "every guitar has a story, and the thrill of finding the right one can be as electrifying as any song it will play."
Hammett joined METALLICA in 1983, replacing original guitarist Dave Mustaine before the band recorded their debut album. He was an original member of Bay Area thrash pioneers EXODUS before making the move.