KIRK HAMMETT On HETFIELD: 'Being Clean And Sober Is Something That He Holds So Close To Heart'

Rolling Stone magazine spoke to METALLICA members James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett at the MAP MusiCares MAP Fund concert on May 12 honoring Hetfield. The evening featured VELVET REVOLVER's acoustic version of PINK FLOYD's "Wish You Were Here", as well as performances by JASON MRAZ, BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, as well as Hetfield and METALLICA mate Robert Trujillo alongside ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney for a blistering set dubbed "Metalice in Chains." Perhaps most impressive was a very rare appearance by none other than TOM WAITS. "Being in the company of Tom Waits is always a huge thing," said Ulrich, while VELVET bassist Duff McKagan admitted to some nerves about sharing the stage with Waits. "That's freaking me out. I saw him on that tour in Seattle in 1999, and it was one of those concerts that just changes your life."

The man of the night, though, was Hetfield, who admitted to some trepidation of his own. "I'm very grateful that people have shown up to support it. It sounds like I'm the center of the universe at times, and I'm not — and I don't want to be," he told Rolling Stone before the show. "I'm nervous." His METALLICA mates were thrilled to be on hand to support their comrade in arms. "This is a great way to celebrate all the achievements and ground that James has covered in his sobriety," said Kirk Hammett. "Him being clean and sober is something that he holds so close to heart. We acknowledge it every day, but it's just great to see other people acknowledging it, too."