Reb Beach Disses Kirk Hammett Big Time

[Louie Music]

Heard about this on the radio the other day. Figured I'd copy and paste the article here for you guys.

Reb Beach of Winger and Whitesnake fame says Metallica's Kirk Hammett is the "worst guitarist I've ever heard in my my life."

Talking to Classic Rock Revisited, Beach piles into the man who founded early thrash metal technicians Exodus before replacing Dave Mustaine in Metallica in 1983, going on to write the riff for Enter Sandman.

It's another in a series of outbursts from member of Winger, who feel they've been harshly dealt with by being called a 'hair band', when in fact they always prided themselves on fine musicianship and technical ability.

Beach says: "I don't know the guy, but I think he's one of the worst guitarists I've ever heard in my life. I've never heard a solo from that guy that was any good.

"The guy's out of tune. His vibrato sounds like a beginner. Back in the 80s he was always voted best guitar player, and I'm like, 'What? That guy is terrible!'

"I hate to say that because I might meet him some day. But if he's in Metallica I have no problem saying it because in their biggest video, Nothing Else Matters, they threw darts at a posted of Kip Winger. Then they showed it live - there were 20,000 people a night laughing at Winger.

"So I don't mind saying Kirk Hammett sucks."

[KramerAmsterdam]

Great! It's just not only Kip Winger being annoyed by these guys, Reb as well...Good for them. I do think Winger as a band were definately gretaness in ability and technique. So what if there lyrics are about 17 yr old chicks...I still do like 17 yr old chicks , just not very political correct to say so now I am..well..older haha..but definately chicks over sandman!


Remy

[Louie Music]

I read an interview one time where Alex Skolnick made a similiar comment about Kirk winning those votes in the 80s over Criss Oliva, but summed it up to popularity instead of people voting for talent.

Yeah, I'm with you Remy... though due to politically correctness I can not comment on that on this forum.

[lostinthemasses]

i never liked winger

so do they talk smack on mike judge for having stewart wear a winger shirt?

there's only two solos from hammett i really admire, one is the solo at the end of One, the other is the solo in Don't Tread On Me, which IMO is one of the best solos featuring a wah pedal.

[_xxx_]

I don't care about either of them, but the guy is simply telling the truth without any fake "correctness". Hammet is a terrible guitarist and far away from even being comparable to the people of Beach's class. Beach is right up there with the best, so he can say such things anytime, with pride.

I hated Winger, but Reb's video on tappings is where I learned proper tapping back then in '91 or so, so I definitely recpect the guy and the band as musicians. Contrary to Metallica, which is IMO one of the worst and most hyped bands ever. In 1992, I played "One" and later also "Enter Sandman" with my band way better than Metallica ever did live.

[jonasaberg]

"worst guitarist I've ever heard in my my life."

First reaction: obviously he has never heard ME

I've never really *listened* to Metallica so I can't comment on Kirk's ability other than he's better than me. I will say this though; over here in Finland, 17 is legal, so there's no problem with Winger's song.

PS
I still wouldn't go for a 17 year old. Teenagers are annoying.

[KramerUK]

I'm with Serg all the way on this one, personal opinion but Metallica were and still are awful.

Justas its been said Reb is one of the few people who can say that without anyone being able to fire back

[amerturk]

Did you guys see the documentary on Metallica? Watch that, see the a-holes at their best, watch for Gollium from Lord of the Rings play the drums and scratch your head like I did and say to yourself...."this is metallica"????

BTW: I like Rob B., but couldn't stand Winger.

[Rick S]

Jeez. Calling names. What a Puss. I don't like either. Reb obviously is an excellent guitarist but the songs as a whole with Winger are just lame IMO. Winger deserved alot of that crap they got. Kip is just.....................well, yuck. Metallica is Metallica.

I think its actually funny when a guitarists mouth off at other guitarsist. Its like a bitch fight.

[Mcniggleston]

Reb kicks ass while Kirk sucks ass. Theres my 2cents lol =D

[jonasaberg]

Did you guys see the documentary on Metallica?

You mean "Some kind of monster" or whatever it was called? I've seen it and thought it was weird. I mean, here they are, one of the greatest metal bands ever (supposedly) and they're talking about...feelings and opening their hearts and s**t.

[helterbot]

I listened to Metallica for about a month or two when I was 14 before realizing that Megadeth crushed them in any way imaginable. This was when Rust in Peace just came out. You really can't do much better than that in my mind. I'm glad my formative guitar years were shaped by Marty instead of Kirk.

I wouldn't go as far to say Kirk is terrible. I would think it would be more accurate to say he's very repetitive and predictable, and needs to needs to cut back on that shitty wah. Although, I will say that the solo in Shortest Straw is completely awesome. But if Reb Beach says you suck, you probably do!

[wilds_dog]

so do they talk smack on mike judge for having stewart wear a winger shirt?

There was a slight nod in that direction in their
appearance on That Metal Show:

(the episode in 3 parts)

http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playl..._1/index.jhtml

[BeN5150]

its funny to that people rip on Winger for shitty songwriting, way to not look at anything other then the first album

Not to mention the production on the first Winger album is fucking terrible, the drums sound like garbage, which is a shame, because Rod is an incredible drummer.

for guys saying Winger is bad, go listen to their 3rd record, "Pull" and then make your judgement based on that


As for Metallica, when i was first getting into heavier music, around age 12, it was always Anthrax, Pantera, Slayer and Megadeth. Metallica is not in the same league as those bands. Another problem with Metallica is the Cliff fanboys. Rob Trujillo kicks the shit out of everyone who has ever been in that band as far as talent goes, but since he joined Metallica he's just been rocking the low E, open, for X amount of years

[A.F.U.]

I'm no Mentallica fan,but i'm sure Kirk will lose sleep over what Reb said...not!In fact i'm sure all of Mentallica will be distraught over a bunch of forum musicians opinions on thier career as a band.It's okay though,i'm sure they can take thier mind off of it by counting thier cash and platinum albums they have amassed over the years.

[Rick S]

Yup.

I'm no Mentallica fan,but i'm sure Kirk will lose sleep over what Reb said...not!In fact i'm sure all of Mentallica will be distraught over a bunch of forum musicians opinions on thier career as a band.It's okay though,i'm sure they can take thier mind off of it by counting thier cash and platinum albums they have amassed over the years.

As for Wingers albums, I agree, the first one blows. The second one 'In the Heart of the Young' is meh for me. 'Pull' is decent. I haven't heard much of 'IV' but I really like what I've heard on 'Karma'. I just dl'd it yesterday and am so far impressed. For me, early Winger, especially Kip, just bugged the shit out of me. Maybe it was those sappy videos with Kip and that dopey assed look on his face or maybe it was one of the guys I worked with that played Winger non-stop for three years. Like I said before, Reb (and the rest of Winger) are obviously super talented but something just rubs me the wrong way with alot of their songs. And just for the record I am NOT a big Metallica fan.

Still, I think its just wrong to call out another guitarist like that. Simply a weak-minded classless act.

[Midnight_Highway]

Winger was/is an incredible band!! Their music was heavy (ok lyrics were a little cheesy in the beginning) and Reb's guitar playing was some of the best on the scene!



Kirk...well, he plays well enough for Metallica. A few great solos in there, but his late stuff is just all whammy pedal and improvised pentatonic wanking.

George

[Blitz]

I'm with Serg all the way on this one, personal opinion but Metallica were and still are awful.

Justas its been said Reb is one of the few people who can say that without anyone being able to fire back

+1

Metallica Has to be one of THE most over hyped bands ever.

[Mcniggleston]

Kill 'Em All was great....all went downhill from there...they suck ass through a straw ever since Ride the Lightning.

[A.F.U.]

they suck ass through a straw ever since Ride the Lightning.

:happy

[marsmountain]

While I do like some of the old Metallica songs, they have always come across to me as a bunch of a** holes. They crippled Winger with the dart board video, then talked trash in the 90's about Motley and some other bands, then sued some of their own fans for copywrite infringment with the whole Nabster ordeal. To me, Kirk always seemed to be the most decent person in the band. I have never heard him say anything negative about anyone else. Lars on the other hand is a total a**. Winger did initially over do the whole "pretty boy" look, but they were/are incredible musicians. Reb can think whatever he likes, but maybe he shouldn't be so quick to say it out loud. Nothing good can come from that kind of statement. My 2 cents.
K.

[Happenstance]

There was a slight nod in that direction in their
appearance on That Metal Show:

(the episode in 3 parts)

http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playl..._1/index.jhtml

Yeah, I saw that today and they said Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead) started the backlash of them being the poster children for all that was bad in metal music in the 80's. I can think of worse than Winger though. Not at the moment. Yeah Beck's.

[Louie Music]

I can think of a shit load of bad metal bands during the 80s that made Winger look as pure as anyone.

Slick Toxik, Tiger Tailz, Faster Pussycat, and there's others I cant even remember their name.

As far as what Reb said, well, I wouldnt call Kirk the worst of that era but I can understand his frustration coming from a guitarist point of view.

[cc85]

Reb sounds bitter in my opinion. He is a far superior guitar player but he would have sold his soul to trade places with Kirk. Winger vs Metallica isnt even an argument success wise. The common music listener could give a shit less who has the better guitar player. Kirk plays what fits Metallica while Reb tried his best to make Winger a success. Well, Kirk kicked his ass in that aspect and he is probably laughing all the way to the bank.

Metallica is not my favorite band by any means but I will take them over Winger any day. Oh, and I think And Justice for All was their best album.

[gtraddict]

Winger still has sour grapes over the Beavis and Butthead upheaval of their meager success.