by Lauren Clark Dykes, photos by Chaz Dykes of Chaz D Photography

On Saturday night, June7th, 2025, the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center in Tampa traded in their usual over-the-top stage shows for a stripped-down setting that still sung with strength and power.

Metallica’s lead shredder, Kirk Hammett, took the stage for The Collection: LIVE, a conversation-meets-show-and-tell deep dive into the dings, dents, and drama behind his most iconic guitars. The event was held to showcase Hammett’s collaboration with photographer Ross Halfin for the premium 400-page coffee table book, The Collection: Kirk Hammett, which documents his personal guitar collection in vivid detail.

The setup looked deceptively casual: two green velvet plush armchairs, a side table, with a laptop, and what initially appeared to be an empty stage. But why were Metallica fans lined up to the left of the stage? They were taking their own pictures and selfies of the four iconic guitars standing proud in a tight formation accompanied by a Mesa Boogie amplifier: Mummy and Ouija by ESP, Flying V by Gibson, and Greeny, a Gibson Les Paul.

The evening was hosted by Mark Agnesi, the Director of Brand Experience at Gibson Guitars. He was armed with just a remote with a laser pointer and guided Hammett into stories that bounced from the islands of Oahu to the backlines of sold-out stadiums. Rocking a black and white star-studded shirt, Hammett talked surfing, fashion, and photography. But mostly, they talked about guitars, their battle scars, and the songs they inspired.

Hammett told the story of buying his first Flying V with Burger King money. He played this guitar when he was in the band Exodus before joining Metallica. This black instrument with a white pickguard happened to be the same guitar he wrote “Creeping Death” on when he was 18 years old. That song opened the show Friday night at their first out of two performances at Raymond James Stadium for their M72 World Tour. This proves that good music never goes away.

When it came time to discuss Greeny—the famous Les Paul that once belonged to Peter Green—he traced the guitar’s body with tenderness and familiarity, only to pause mid-story when he discovered a new blemish on the body. He was for certain it was his doing, maybe even from the night before.

The Hard Rock surprised Hammett with his famed Ouija guitar which he hasn’t seen or held in about 25 years. This iconic guitar was heavily used throughout the 90s. We all learned that this instrument glows in the dark and has a small typo. Bonus points if you leave in the comments what you think the misspelling is.

Of course, the crowd had one collective question every time a guitar was lifted: “Play it!” One big fan, in particular, was quite vocal in this request. Agnesi promised it would happen. We just had to wait.

The night was intimate, unscripted, and filled with anecdotes. Agnesi clicked through the book pages that were projected on to a screen between them using the laser pointer to highlight the images. Some of Hammett gripping a guitar, standing next to a guitar, rocking out on a guitar, and even a solo pic of a guitar. The photography had its own style which was unique, dramatic, and very rock ‘n roll.

The audience got an unexpected treat when the renowned rock photographer, Halfin, stepped onto the stage. They traded stories about globe-trotting tours and sunsets that look different every night in Hawaii. He was instrumental in the creation of this visual anthology we were here to celebrate, and it took years to produce.

Then came the big reveal: The Raven, Hammett’s first-ever signature series acoustic guitar made by Gibson. Black. Sleek. Etched with ravens and floral detail. Not one, not two, but three pick guards. Hammett appropriately chose to name The Raven thus adding to the family of Gibson acoustic guitars named after birds, like Hummingbird and Dove.

Finally, with a smile, Hammett welcomed Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo to the stage. What followed was a raw, riff-heavy moment that reminded everyone you don’t need pyrotechnics and lasers (sorry Agnesi) to light up the room. Their chemistry was palpable, and every fan knew something special was happening.

The venue was full of diehard Metallica fans, mostly rocking a vintage tour tee. The event felt more special than a concert. It wasn’t about putting on a show, it was more about honoring the stories behind the strings.