METALLICA Guitarist Talks Horror: LARS ULRICH 'Would Probably Make A Pretty Good Vampire'

Guitar World magazine recently conducted an interview with METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett about his book, "Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection". A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Guitar World: If you made a horror film about METALLICA, which monster would play each band member?

Kirk: I would be a vampire, because they're stealth, lurk in the shadows, and appear and disappear. There's also a goth element to vampires that I really like, which doesn't exist in werewolves, the Frankenstein monster or the mummy. James [Hetfield] would probably enjoy being a Frankenstein monster…but then again maybe not! Rob [Trujillo] would definitely be a werewolf, because he's already halfway there in appearance. [laughs] And Lars [Ulrich] would probably make a pretty good vampire, like myself.

Guitar World: What's the strangest thing you've ever collected?

Kirk: Hmm... For a while I was collecting Satan and devil stuff — you know, anything that had to do with old Beelzebub or Lucifer. But I had to put the brakes on it, because there's a lot of stuff out there, and the collection was just growing too quickly. As far as eclectic stuff, I went through a really big taxidermy phase where I collected lots of animals. I've since had to go through and sell off stuff, because not only does it take up a lot of room but also there are little critters that like to move into taxidermy. And it's not my thing to have little critters moving around my house.

Guitar World: Sophie's Choice: Your guitars or your horror collection — one has to go.

Kirk: Oh! Did you have to ask me that question? [laughs] That's putting me in the hot seat, man. I don't know if I have an answer. That's like, "What arm should I chop off? My left or my right?" [laughs] That's a hard one. I'd go nuts if I lost either one. But, in my heart of hearts, I would probably sell my movie poster collection before my guitars. My music and guitars are just that much closer to my heart. I mean, come on, music was the only thing that could tear me away from the [horror] stuff. But when I was able to get some disposable income, via music and guitar playing, I went right back to collecting. My appreciation for that stuff will be with me my whole life. But my guitars offer me a voice and a conduit to express myself. They give me a sense of accomplishment that I don't think collecting will ever give to me. With music and guitar playing I can also help, and share with, more people than I could ever do with my collection. And that's the bottom line.

Read the entire interview from Guitar World.