Metallica Guitarist Kirk Hammett Discusses His Love for Horror Comics

2018-10-25

Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

Kirk Hammett of Metallica says he was a big fan of reading monster magazines and horror comic books when he was growing up

Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is a massive fan of horror films and comics, and he owns a substantial collection of memorabilia from classic horror movies. Sotheby’s is auctioning off a movie poster for the 1932 film “The Mummy,” and Hammett spoke with the art broker about his love for horror comics and how he amassed his collection.

“I was way into Edgar Allan Poe when I was a child, and I also read a lot of monster magazines and horror comic books,” Hammett said. “The next eight or 10 years or so, my whole life revolved around playing guitar and being in a band and being a musician and making a living, but the second I got some disposable income, I went straight back to that comic shop and started buying a lot of old vintage comics that I had wanted for a long time…and then, all of the sudden, I had a collection.”

Hammett also spoke about his longtime fascination with the horror genre and how it’s related to his guitar work.

“When I pick up my guitar, which is the most ready way for me to express myself and my feelings, I have a tendency to play stuff that’s dark and haunting and in a minor key,” he said. “I definitely attribute that to my earlier influence of the horror genre.”

As for horror movie posters from the 1920s and 1930s, Hammett says part of their obscurity is because, “nobody thought they’d be of any value. At the time, they were just considered pieces of paper to advertise a movie, so people didn’t even really think about keeping them.”

The auction for “The Mummy” poster runs through 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. For more information, head to Sothebys.com.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.