Kirk Hammett makes cocky statement, pisses off musicians everywhere

A member of Metallica is making headlines again. Shocking. This time, it’s guitarist Kirk Hammett. In a recent interview with Music Radar to promote his KHDK guitar pedal line, he said something that has people pretty pissed:

“We’re all very inspired and very, very excited about this. I think it’s the first time you’ll see a pedal company actually being driven by an actual guitar player, like Tom Scholz and Rockman – I really don’t know of any other guitar players out there who are actually making pedals.”

If you’re thinking that’s a bit of an overstatement (or an outright lie), you’d be right. Technically, anyone who’s ever made a pedal is a musician, as MetalSucks rightfully pointed out. But before we start hating on Kirk, realize he probably meant a large-scale success guitarist, like himself. While it’s still cocky, and totally not okay, it is a slight difference than how it comes off.

A plus side out of all this, a hilarious Twitter shitstorm.

Hi @KirkHammett @MusicRadar I run a pedal company w/ my fam, play music/guitar/bass, & have toured. You're not the 1st or last, but welcome.

— FUZZROCIOUS PEDALS (@fuzzrocious) February 13, 2016

https://twitter.com/dwarfcraft/status/698571935429431296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

@KirkHammett Actual guitarist and actual pedal maker checking in.

— DigiTech (@DigiTech) February 13, 2016

@KirkHammett Nah, yr not the first guitar player making pedals. Kudos for doing something unique like a TS with compression switches!

— Catalinbread (@catalinbread) February 13, 2016

https://twitter.com/GreerAmps/status/698599562647310336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/joshuakoterba/status/698692099038904320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

@KirkHammett Hold up. I just saw what the actual pedal from an actual guitarist is. It's actually been done many times. #nothingnew

— Salvage Custom (@salvagecustom) February 13, 2016

@KirkHammett welcome. Many pedal designs come from our experiences as players. Looking forward to yours. pic.twitter.com/2avBGMJPgC

— Caroline Guitar Co. (@CarolineGCo) February 14, 2016