Kirk Hammett Says He Has No Plans to Retire

The idea of our favorite bands, or artists, calling it quits, is always a sad conversation, but surely there comes a point… While we love you and selfishly want you to tour forever, it can’t be fun sustaining that busy lifestyle way into your 70s. Or can it?

In a new interview with Louder, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett spoke about his solo work, writing a book, and his retirement plans. Or lack thereof, actually.

“I don’t believe in retirement. Retirement is something that’s been forced onto people; I don’t believe musicians are allowed to retire! This was the thinking of all musicians for the last century; because you’ve earned the right to be up there onstage, you have to fulfil that responsibility to the very end.

“The goal was to die onstage! Especially in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Playing music is a gift, a blessing and a privilege. I love what I do and it’s magic – it helps people. So I can’t walk away from that.”

Forget retiring. Instead, let’s be slaves to the grind as it were and continue to serve it with relentless hours and the constant push to tour endlessly. Heck yeah! No, but for real, the idea of having to “die on stage” is a gnarly one, for sure.

I guess, being one of the most successful musicians in the world, in one of the biggest bands in metal, has its perks…

See Metallica Live:

06/27 Denver Empower Field at Mile High, CO+
06/29 Denver Empower Field at Mile High, CO*

* Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies support
+ Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills support