Hello Marty. I think that a quick thank you is in order, for all the great music and foremost, all the inspiration you have provided for many aspiring guitarists out there, including me.

My qeustion is about Kirk Hammet. I have allways, unfairly perhaps, considered him to be a lousy guitar player. Unfairly is because he and metallica has created some great music. But his solos always suck. They completely lack melody. And melody is for me all that makes music so great. Okay, he is fast, and he obviously has some teqnique, but judging from the tunes I have heard with him and metallica, he just don't have an ear for hearing melodies.

What do you think of him. Am i completely off track? Does he play like that just because his fans like that kind of music? Or is he lousy?

thank you most sincerely for any answer

'lousy' doesn't make for the kind of success Metallica has. Kirk's playing is an important ingredient in the great sound they have. Chemistry is important too. Even if Metallica had a different player whose melodies were more to your liking, that might change their cool chemistry. Never mess with success!!