Kirk Hammett narrated Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” in a video posted on YouTube, marking an unexpected shift from music to literature on Metallica’s official channel. Fans reacted with surprise at the guitarist’s venture into spoken word performance.
The video arrived in time for Halloween and featured Hammett reading Poe’s 1845 poem about a grieving man visited by a mysterious raven. According to the video description, the guitarist drew on his long-standing passion for horror, which has led him to collect art, posters and artifacts from the genre’s golden age over many decades.
“Just in time for Halloween, Kirk Hammett lends his voice to one of the most haunting poems ever written: Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven,'” the video description stated. “A lifelong devotee of horror, Kirk has spent decades collecting the art, posters, and artifacts of the genre’s golden age. Here he turns to the source, reading Poe’s 1845 masterpiece about a grieving man, a midnight visitor, and a single word that won’t stop knocking. Pour something dark, turn the lights down, and listen.”
One viewer expressed their astonishment at the content. “I didn’t expect Kirk reading us a book on an oficiall metallica chanel,” the fan wrote.
The narration showcased a different side of Hammett’s creative interests beyond his work as Metallica’s lead guitarist. The move demonstrated how the band’s official channel has become a platform for the members to explore their personal passions outside of music.
Hammett’s fascination with horror runs deep and spans decades. He began collecting scary movie items around age five or six, amassing one of the most extensive horror and science fiction collections in the world. His collection spans the entire history of horror films, from early twentieth-century films like “Frankenstein” to 1970s and 1980s slasher movies.
In 2012, Hammett released a coffee table book called “Too Much Horror Business” that featured photos of his extensive collection of monster and horror memorabilia. He also displayed a portion of his collection in the “Kirk’s Crypt” exhibition during the 2012 and 2013 Orion Music + More festivals. The exhibition was later held at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.
Beyond collecting, Hammett has expanded his creative work into other areas. He organized the Fear FestEvil horror convention and in April 2026 released his debut solo EP, “Portals,” which he described as being partially influenced by horror movies and composer Ennio Morricone’s score for “The Thing.” The four-piece band is currently performing a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
