KIRK HAMMETT: JUDAS PRIEST Are ‘Architects Of What We Now Know As Heavy Metal’

Kirk Hammett Rob Halford

A fan-filmed video of the question-and-answer session on May 25 at the Metallica: The Black Album in Black & White book signing, held at Alte Kongresshalle in Munich, Germany, can be viewed below. The event featured METALLICA‘s official photographer Ross Halfin, along with bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett, who also participated in the discussion.

Commenting on a photo of himself and METALLICA frontman James Hetfield rocking out during JUDAS PRIEST‘s performance at last October’s Power Trip festival in Indio, California, Hammett said: “We were worshipping at the altar of JUDAS PRIEST. Their music means so much to us. And the way Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing played the guitars — I mean, they are architects of what we now know as heavy metal, to put it bluntly. And James and I, we love PRIEST.

“We don’t really get a chance to see bands, a lot of times, when we’re playing a huge festival or something, because we’re always backstage doing press or getting ready for the show or rehearsing or whatever,” he continued. “So when we did Power Trip, we got there early — a few days early — just so that we could see all the other bands. And it was great — the anticipation of seeing [IRONMAIDENPRIESTAC/DC [and] GUNS N’ ROSES, and actually seeing them. It was a wonderful time.”

Metallica: The Black Album In Black & White is a collaboration between METALLICA and Ross Halfin, celebrating one of the best-selling albums of all time with both classic and previously unpublished photographs. The book includes introductions by Halfin, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Jason Newsted, and Robert Trujillo.

Halfin was with the band during the album sessions at One On One Studios in North Hollywood and captured thousands of film rolls during the 300-date tour that followed from 1991 to 1993. He documented the band’s hectic performance schedule, backstage activities, rehearsals, interviews, band meetings, and travel, along with unique portrait shots of the band members.