Kirk Hammett, Metallica’s legendary guitarist, recently shared a deeply emotional memory from the band’s collaboration with the late Lou Reed on the album Lulu. This particular experience left a lasting impression on Hammett, who reflected on how much the album means to him both personally and professionally.
Hammett revealed, “That album [‘Lulu’] means so much to me for a number of reasons. The lyrics are amazing. It’s poetry from track to track. I’m a huge Lou Reed fan. To be able to hang out with him and work with him musically meant so much.”
His connection to the album goes beyond just the music. The emotional depth of the lyrics resonated with him deeply, and the opportunity to collaborate with Reed, whom he had admired for years, was truly special.
A particularly moving moment for Hammett came while working on the song “Junior Dad.” Reflecting on the track, Hammett shared, “I can’t listen to it, man. Brings me to tears.” He vividly recalled a poignant moment during the creation of the song when Reed introduced it to him and James Hetfield.
“I remember when Lou said, ‘I have a song for you, and I want this to be on the album.’ And he played it for James and I. By the end of the song, I looked at James, and James looked at me. We both had tears in our eyes.”
This emotional moment took place in a more casual setting, which made it even more meaningful. Hammett described how Reed entered the kitchen to find both him and Hetfield visibly affected by the song. Reed, with a knowing smile, remarked, “Then Lou Reed came in and saw us both crying in the kitchen. He’s smiling, and he said, ‘I got you, didn’t I?’”
The deeply personal experience highlights the powerful artistic connection that was formed during the creation of Lulu. For Hammett, this collaboration was not only about music—it was a profound emotional experience that remains with him to this day.
Despite the mixed reception of Lulu from fans and critics, it’s clear that the emotional impact of working with Reed has stayed with Hammett. The album’s unique artistic direction and personal resonance clearly made it a significant milestone in his career.
