Kirk Hammett Shares Story About Getting The “Greeny” Legendary Guitar

Kirk Hammett talks about buying his iconic guitar “Greeny” and how Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield passed up on the purchase.

Metallica recently had an appearance on the Howard Stern Show to promote their latest album 72 Seasons. The host then talked to Hammett about Greeny asking if he really did pay a couple of million bucks for it. The guitarist then clarified:

“No, no, that’s the rumor.

“I would never pay a couple of million dollars for just about anything.”

When asked why he bought the guitar, Hammett said:

“The owner came to me, Manny, he was in financial streets and I said to him ‘I’m not gonna buy a two million dollar guitar’ and he said ‘It’s not two million dollars.'”

Hammett then went on to try the guitar and within “30 seconds” after he plugged it in, he knew he’d get it. He went on to explain “the legend” story about Greeny, saying:

“There is a legend to it is that Peter Green bought it in 1965 and Peter Green was a guy who formed Fleetwood Mac and on that guitar, he wrote ‘Black Magic Woman,’ ‘Oh Well,’ ‘Albatross,’ ‘Green Manalishi,’ amongst a bunch of other songs.

“And then in 1971, he sold it to Gary Moore for 150 dollars, and then Gary Moore had it for like the next 30 years and played it on a bunch of Thin Lizzy albums, including my favorite Thin Lizzy album Black Rose and so Greeny has a really unique sound.”

Hetfield and Ulrich then claimed they were offered to get Greeny before Hammett but passed on purchasing it. Hammett noted:

“It’s inseparable now. Where I sleep, it’s literally 10 feet from me. No matter where I am, I keep it and bring everywhere and play it on stage too.”

He then confirmed that Greeny was played by Hendrix, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher amongst other icons. Watch the video below.