41 years ago, Kirk Hammett received an audition invitation from Metallica while he was sitting on the toilet on April Fool’s Day

41 years ago today, Kirk Hammett received an unexpecteԀ phone call that would change the course of his career. Sitting on the toilet in the middle of the afternoon on April 1, 1983, the guitarist for Exodus was surprised to hear from the band’s manager, Mark Whitaker, who offered him an audition for Metallica.

Initially skeptical, Hammett assumed it was an April Fool’s prank and dismissed the offer with a casual “Yeah, right” before hаnging up. However, Whitaker persisted and explained that Metallica’s manager, Jonny Z, wаnted him to reach out to Hammett due to their mutual connections. Whitaker bluntly expressed Metallica’s dissatisfaction with their current guitarist, Dave Mustaine, and emphasized the need for a replacement.

Whitaker arranged to send Hammett a copy of Metallica’s demo tape, “No Life ‘Til Leather,” for him to learn the songs. Rather than waiting for the package, Hammett took matters into his own hands and acquired the demo through the tape-trading network. By the early hours of April 2, he had already mastered half of the songs.

Hammett’s decision to audition for Metallica came as a surprise to his close friend and Exodus bandmate, Gary Holt, who initially expressed astonishment. However, Holt recognized the opportunity for creative control within Exodus once Hammett departed for Metallica.

In celebration of Hammett’s departure, Exodus hosted a party where everyone indulged in festivities. Holt and vocalist Paul Baloff humorously adorned the venue with Hammett’s image cutouts from promotional photos, prompting a playful chase to retrieve them.

A week later, Hammett embarked on a nervous journey from San Francisco to Newark, New Jersey, carrying his cherished amplifier and guitar equipment. Upon arriving, he met with Whitaker and proceeded to the audition venue, where he impressed the members of Metallica with his skills.

The audition marked the beginning of a new chapter for Hammett and Metallica, while Exodus underwent its own transformation. Despite initial uncertainties, Hammett’s leap of faith ultimately led to his iconic role in one of the most influential bands in rock history.

Today, this historic event serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of musical careers and the pivotal moments that shape them.