Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett is once again generating discussion after criticizing the current state of popular music, just days after drawing attention for wearing a shirt referencing Taylor Swift during the band’s recent European tour.
Hammett sparked controversy earlier this month when he appeared onstage in Budapest wearing a shirt featuring the phrase “Taylor Swift Is A CIA Psyop,” a viral internet meme that prompted backlash from some fans of the pop superstar.
Now, the legendary guitarist has raised eyebrows again, this time over comments he made to The Irish Times, where he lamented what he sees as the decline of songwriting in modern music.
Reflecting on how musicians learned before the internet era, Hammett praised the process of figuring songs out by ear and argued that the struggle involved in mastering an instrument helped players develop their own styles.
“I kind of lament those days when people had to really struggle to learn, because it’s all in the struggle. And it’s all in the determination and being inspired at the same time that forces you to come up with your own stuff and eventually your own sound and style.”
Hammett went on to express concern that advances in technology and increasingly polished musicianship haven’t necessarily translated into stronger songs.
“I hope it leads to a better quality of pop music, popular music, and just a better quality of songwriting. Because right now, songwriting and pop music is crap. I’m hoping that all these great musicians who can teach themselves through the internet step up and put all that great learning and all that great inspiration into creating new stuff, new songs, the future of music, and at a higher standard than what it is now.”
He punctuated the criticism by adding:
“Because I’ll say it again, K-R-A-P. Crap. Sorry for all you pop fans out there.”
While Hammett’s remarks were broad in scope and not directed at any specific artist, the comments arrive amid continued online debate surrounding his recent Taylor Swift-themed shirt, which quickly became a talking point among both metal fans and Swifties alike.
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[Via ThePRP]
