What do Journey and Metallica have in common? Other than incredibly successful careers, a few platinum albums, and looming old age, not much. But whether you’re a classic rocker or a metal headbanger, neither one can resist The Aloha State, which is how Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett wound up onstage with Journey last week during a concert in Honolulu.
Hammett, who has a house in Hawaii, emerged onstage to join Journey lead guitarist Neal Schon for “Wheel in the Sky” back on October 6th at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena. Along with rhythm guitarist George Tickner, Hammett injected some added grit to the track off 1978’s Infinity that marked Journey’s first entry into the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #57.
After trading some hair-raising licks, a progressive breakdown led straight into the iconic riff from “Enter Sandman”. Drummer Deen Castronovo pounded out the familiar Lars Ulrich rhythm as the crowd roared its approval. Though vocalist Arnel Pineda, who took over the revolving door position of Journey lead singer in 2007, is well versed in the band’s catalog at this point, that doesn’t necessarily mean the same for Metallica’s songbook. The singer deftly maneuvered the first few lines of the song like faking your way through knowing somebody’s name before he ceded control back to the instrumentalists ahead of a reprisal of “Wheel in the Sky”.
Watch Kirk Hammett sit in with Journey on “Wheel in the Sky” in Hawaii. Metallica has a pair of sold-out dates remaining this year including a special tribute to late Megaforce Records founders Jonny and Martha Zazul on November 6th in Hollywood, FL as well as the band’s annual Helping Hands benefit concert in Los Angeles on December 16th.
Journey, Kirk Hammett – “Wheel in the Sky” > “Enter Sandman” > “Wheel in the Sky” – 10/6/22
[Video: Rholedz]
[H/TÂ Consequence]