Kirk Hammett about Paul Baloff

Kirk talking about his old friend Paul Baloff, who died in February 2002
Paul Baloff was the singer of Kirks first band Exodus.In the End of 82 Kirk left the band to join Metallica.
In 84 Baloff recorded the legendary Album "Bonded by Blood" with Exodus.It was finally released in 85...
R.I.P. Paul...
All rights belong to their respective owners.
www.metallica.com/index.asp
www.exodusattack.com/

[@kobra.kidding]

kirk, paul, gary and tom: *are bonded by blood* also kirk: ight imma head out

[@ZIPTHEWHIP13]

He obviously misses his friend

[@patrickshannon1547]

ZIPTHEWHIP13 Yeah he does. And Kirk is a great person just like Paul Baloff was

[@patrickshannon1547]

I'm so glad to hear all the great input on this subject thanks be happy to chat with any of you on this. Quiz time does anyone know who was Metallica's first base player was? I do and it wasn't Cliff, I know the answer do you?

[@andycanter6322]

@@patrickshannon1547 yes i know

[@user-mz8ib7oi4c]

@@patrickshannon1547 It was Ron

[@basicallysnake]

@@patrickshannon1547Ron McGovney

[@chrissmith6726]

kirk looks like the evil twin on the bonded by blood album cover

[@domant26]

yeah lol xD

[@thelwulf5501]

Because it is him.

[@belghy281]

Because he is, that's the whole point of the cover

[@dylanjoaquin9733]

He's that guy

[@MrRed-tf7bv]

😆😆💀🤘🏽🎸🍻⛓😆💀

[@willr455]

It's funny because they were "Bonded by Blood" and then Kirk left

[@John011900]

kinda wierd he bailed like that

[@coldvoid]

+willr455 He left the band, not the bond, jeeeeez. People bond themselves, not band members.

[@domant26]

+Krzysztof Urban priceless

[@Slayerrrrrr]

Blood in, Blood out

[@sdjmacdiaz]

He also said at the end Paul set him on his path. Maybe he got Paul's blessing to leave? Regardless, Kirk is great, he just had a different spirit than Paul and Exodus.

[@theguywhoplaysinbands]

Tragic death. Paul never deserved his death. Just an amazing vocalist who always got the crowd going and made Exodus and thrash metal what it is today. Another sad loss in Metal

[@miguelcruz2682]

Glad I got to see him couple of times in the mid 80's.. 🤘😈🤘

[@scottpainter8599]

@@miguelcruz2682 You're very lucky

[@afoolisharrangement]

Kirk's goodbye is beautiful.

[@setifaast]

Kirk really is such a humble dude no pretenses.

[@tieukhavu8832]

@ No one matters about THAT. Because it was not very kind

[@ringadingding32]

@ so they forgot a song and now they are douches? okay bud

[@xridexhardx507]

@ Metallica has found their roots as best they can with the last 2 releases, and their live show still kills. They've still got the chops to play all of their old catalog, it's just a matter of them wanting to. Every band deserves some slack for having a few albums that were clunkers. Just listen to Master of Puppets and fuck shit up.

[@queenzeppelin3267]

No he ain't

[@krystallamberton9461]

RIP Paul. I was there back in the 80's and watched em in their practice spot. He was a straight bulldog but good as hell. old school rules.

[@alvinn.5659]

R.I.P. Baloff

[@Hellthrasher]

'Drinking vodka and listening to Venom and Mercyful Fate . .' Metallica should get back in this zone so they can write some killer songs again!

[@tab6496]

+Hellthrasher it won't happen, they are so rich now that they don't have that passion anymore.

[@claudiocruzat4768]

Hellthrasher wrong..older yes but, you want another master of puppets? wake up man its 2017. their 2 last works are amazing.

[@claudiocruzat4768]

Hellthrasher wrong..older yes but, you want another master of puppets? wake up man its 2017. their 2 last works are amazing.

[@John011900]

yes I like Death magnetic, despite the audio problems, people complained about, Hardwired is awesome also I like em. If No one Remembers First Came Ride The Lightning, I really like that one , then the almost Identical Master Of Puppets, which I like also. The Funny thing I have heard that most say Ride the Lightning was Metallica trying to copy Master of Puppets. What Meathead says that, lol. I think the two of them equal in Stature, the only difference in the two is Orion is song 7 and Call Khtulu is last song, instead of Damage Inc, on Master being last song. Both 8 song albums. Also unlike other people I don't think Trapped Under Ice, or Escape are bad songs I always liked em.

[@Admiral_Bongo]

@@claudiocruzat4768 Their last works suck, IMO. Insanely unmemorable riffs, quite cheesy lyrics at times and godawful guitar tones. Better than St. Anger? Maybe. Amazing? No way.

[@marcribaudo1965]

That was well said. Deep shit. There was a show at L'amours in Brooklyn back in 85, and Paul was sick and didn't sing that night but the band still played. Man I wish he sung. The audience filled in anyway. RIP Paul.

[@lasherthirteen7456]

I was there! the rumor was Paul had the dry "heaves" If I recall blessed death opened up?

[@user-uo7nq7nq3m]

Hell yes, I was there too. The show was cool, everyone did sing, it was like no singer, who gives a fuck, and it was an hour and more jam. Some said he was just too drunk. Others said during the show he was in the pit for a song. He was like a cool metal guy you knew, every town had one. He was an awesome front man, even when not there.

[@JungleJuiceJoey]

Metallica and Exodus are the best. Paul Baloff was one of my favorite vocalists. :(

[@MattRockwell1]

Doober McFly Metallica sucks

[@dylanrus8117]

@@MattRockwell1 Shutup you poser

[@boiledforeskin5594]

@@MattRockwell1 nah

[@LevitatorMusic]

Strokes happen that way. It's terrifying. My wife just witnessed this at work. Her and a co-worker were talking and joking around then out of nowhere she collapsed to the floor and started seizing and vomiting, she was rushed to the hospital and after a few months she managed to pull through but is permanently disabled and partially blind. She's only in her early 50's too and a SUPER cool person. So sad.

[@robbuttle8270]

didn't know him very well,but he was allways supercool to hang out with. bonded by blood still shreds! great album

[@capnkdawg]

Kirk is such a cool dude...he was only with Baloff and Exodus for a short time but he still loves the guy enough that he gets choked up when he talks about him...Metallica rules, Exodus rules, Hammett rules, Baloff rules...METAL RULES!!!

[@abelstrd]

My mom use to work for him years ago, even my two younger sisters met him said he (Kirk) was the nicest guy. He was a very good host at his home, made my sisters a PB&J.

[@orion_8181]

What did your mom do?

[@pantera89]

we miss you Paul, Rest in Peace my Metal Friend..........\\m// \\m//

[@MadMedic.]

That pic at the end is awesome. Much respect to Kirk. RIP Paul.

[@Mike4metal]

kirk is the coolest person you could ever meet! rest in peace paul,bonded by blood

[@warshipsatin8764]

people who complain about paul baloffs vocals will never get it. he was the embodiment of metal and thrash spirit

[@seekah1]

One of the best coherent interviews I've seen of Hammett. Thanks so much for upping this. The Bonded by Blood story was cool as well.

[@Jessamer]

You know that was the best of, I don't know how many takes..

[@brandonlamchops]

i love how bonded by blood came about. that was so beautiful and moving and its everything metal represents, brotherhood.

[@honigdachs.]

I listened to the "Another Lesson In Violence" live album all the time when it came out in 1997. The "heavier than time" line Kirk mentions at the end stuck with me ever since.

[@lucianoroberto9804]

Kirk has lost two big close friends of his: Paul Baloff and Cliff Burton, legendary Bay Area figures. All the best for Kirk "The Ripper" Hammett and Baloff and Burton may be jamming now somewhete with other immortalized Metal heroes.

[@jasonledyard3523]

He was brilliant and I will not forget doing lights at CBGBs for him. Great Vocalist... so much better than most of the people thereafter.

[@donSparda]

I have friends, i have a life, i have bandmates who are my friends, when i`m depressed, they ask why, and comfort me, as i do with them, i have a job, i`m going to sweden rock tomorrow, then back to play more guitar and sing. I have friends, a life, a job, a band, and guitar..man, when i think about it, i have a damn great life.

[@spaz42081]

Classy Kirk, Paul will definitely always be remembered

[@jimcarrey636]

This interview has totally changed my decision on how i feel towards Kirk Hammet. This dude is so fucking badass. His love for UFO alone makes me extremely proud. I wish Hammet stayed in Exodus, because it would have been 10 million times better then Metallica. Metallica should have kept mustaine, but then there would be no megadeth :(. O I don't know, Metal is just so damn good. R.I.P Baloff, Dio, Dimebag, Shuldiner, Rhoads, Lord, Burton, Quorthon

[@martinlowe4441]

I agree, I look at Kirk a lot different after watching this

[@MsCristyful]

Also Gar Samuelson thrashing his kit rip

[@dbdaylightsgames5747]

Personally yes megadeth is good but Dave’s vocals are not near as good as his guitar playing and he didn’t sell out in the 90s so I doubt he would have let them do what they did same with cliff if he didn’t die

[@carmenfabozzi3248]

I'm surprised that Metallica never did any Venom covers.

I'm surprised at your surprise. Venom sucked-ass big time!

[@brandonpowell3254]

@@unabonger777 metallica doesn't hold up today??? 😂😂😂😂😂 bro lay off that coke. Shit melting your brain. Smh

[@Ae0liann]

unabonger777 you’re a fucking moron hahaha

[@tab6496]

@@unabonger777 Venom sucks ass

[@briantarkington4785]

Metallica is still going! I don't see many other 80 metal bands doing much!. Hey lets talk shit about a band" because they are successful!

[@OrionityChannel]

Kirk go back in Exodus, Mustaine go back in Metallica, and Hanneman go back in Slayer, and the world is perfect ! R.I.P Jeff... :(

[@Failhaid]

to add a little thing to Exodus' status back then: by the time kirk left the band, gary managed to push the style of exodus into a heavier, faster, just overall more aggressive style then kirks style of songwriting back then, with that they got more and more fans. so you can say, when bonded by blood was recorded, they had the same status that metallica had when they recorded their debut.

[@angieleigh2055]

I met Paul through a friend at a music studio and never knew about Exodus, never knew about him being in a band, and never knew he was a lead singer of a famous Bay Area Metal band, he was the most humble down to earth, sweet, honest, great guy. I didn't know until after the fact who he was! He didn't act famous, he didn't have a big head, or brag about himself, and that's what all I will always remember about Paul! Rest in paradise good friend! 🙏🙏🙏

[@joshhouston3443]

What if Gary Holt joined Metallica and Kirk stayed in Exodus

[@DakTirCue]

then load and reload would have, thankfully, never happened!!!

[@BradCGZ]

This is really cool video, thanx for posting

[@billysavedra8292]

Great story Kirk thanks

[@bluefukingreene]

paul would probably cry for being remembered so fondly by a friend...thats the connection we all hope to make....to make someone love you for you...thats a good thing.

[@luke-da-duke]

great interview

[@augie150]

i feel sorry for you kirk you are the best guitarist that ever live

[@John011900]

anyone ever wonder what would of happend if kirk stayed in exodus

[@billysavedra8292]

oh yeah

[@billysavedra8292]

i also think about Dave never getting fired from Metallica?????i also think about what Ratt sounded like with Jake E Lee???

[@billysavedra8292]

+Billy Savedra lol

[@John011900]

Ratt may of sounded good with Jake although i still like there stuff without him in the group i did not know he was in that band though i thought he was solo now in badlands and ozzy and yes i wonder how Metallica would of sounded like with dave in the band and also ty for answering this post i thought i may never get an answer

[@billysavedra8292]

Yup he was in ratt rough cutt then Ozzy Bad lands i think in that order ..you welcome this very interesting stuff kirk on his old buds from exodus very sad too

[@Failhaid]

i found something about this on the Metallica-Site "It's just a shame and I'll miss him, but at least we have the first Exodus album, thank God for that! One of my favorite Paul Baloff lines was, when he was introducing an Exodus song on their last live album; the line went 'This song is older than shit, heavier than time.' I thought that was such a great line. That's the way I like to think of himheavier than time. " by the way..Boned By Blood is the very first record

[@darkkrenaissance42]

Paul is a huge reason why i prefer the ORIGINAL bonded by blood over the re recording

[@kirkhammett2912]

Thank you!

[@disinteger]

Thank you for that.

[@born2kill45]

I guess you can say he had an Exodus attack

[@christinaazbill]

It's interesting to hear this side of Paul. Good to hear about the good times, the things you remember :)

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Paul Baloff (25 de abril de 1960-2 de febrero de 2002) fue un cantante estadounidense, más conocido por ser vocalista de la banda de thrash metal Exodus.

[@Failhaid]

kirk talked about that in an interview on Bruce Dickinson's radioshow.He said he was such a big fan of metallica.The manager of Exodus back then was also involved in Metallicas management, so it was very comfortable for kirk. by the way: Gary Holt said in the Get Thrashed-Movie, he thinks "it was a good step for both sides.Better for Kirk financially"

[@blaspherian]

UFO AND FUCKIN BALOFF RULE.HAIL THE ELDER GODS!

[@indamood8806]

Nice respectful speaking by Kirk. Even though BBB is one of the best thrash albums ever, without Paul - with a "better" singer - ist wouldn´t be, what it is! Paul was the soul of Bay Area Thrash in those crucial days. Took me some time to get used to his singing back then in 1985, but his photo on the back cover flashed me totally: Pure metal madness, that guy! Kirk is a nice guy and Metallica are lucky to have him for such a long time now.

[@Silverchord1974]

I met Baloff in 1990! We partied at the Sixpence motel in Stockton CA lots of bands were there, including UFO! I miss those days!

[@Delongis46]

Dude, love the user name!

[@KillJoy353]

R.I.P. Paul

[@metalmeister3054]

R.I.P. Paul, we miss you.

[@laudanum669]

Nice job Kirk great words about a great guy.

[@mrkrzt]

Love the story about bonded by blood.

[@williampope4063]

I love all this!!!

[@rafzombie5907]

Good story ,good memoir. Piece to you'llz friendship

[@reignofterrorzion3211]

He is a decent lead guitarist! I always liked Gary Holt better with Exodus!

[@chrisberg2083]

Cuz HOLT RULES

[@DakTirCue]

@@chrisberg2083 Holt wipes the floor with Hammett.. and I love Hammett!!!! There really is no comparison in technical ability or original composition. As good as Kirk is.. he's almost a one trick pony compared to Gary.

[@chrisberg2083]

I have two words for KURT DAVE MUSTAINE

[@chrisberg2083]

Kirk lol

[@sadsadasdsadasdsadas]

@@chrisberg2083 Calm down moron.

[@jamierose6046]

That was beautiful and so sad 😢

[@glenkepic3208]

Great tribute, Kirk.

[@NewHorrorfield]

When was this video made? I think it's an awesome vid! I always wondered about how Kirk's Exodus days were! I wish I'd seen Exodus with Baloff!

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Kirk Lee Hammett (San Francisco, California, 18 de noviembre de 1962) es un guitarrista estadounidense, actualmente miembro de la banda de thrash metal Metallica. Está considerado como el noveno mejor guitarrista del momento según la revista Total Guitar y número 11 según una lista de la revista Rolling Stone seleccionada en 2003 por David Fricke, colaborador de la misma.[1]​

[@jellyh6545]

What clip is that from?

[@danielk8149]

You was in the beginning to your soul is beautiful for someone that's seen so much your cool as fuck old man

[@redshaftedflicker]

Bonded by Blood still blows my mind.

[@RETCHED-METAL]

Rest in power Paul Baloff

[@debbiemendoza5101]

RIP Paul

[@patrickshannon1547]

Thanks Kirk for sharing that very moving story with us. In 1986 when I was in high school I had the vinyl album bonded by blood. My dad was reading the lyrics to the album and after he got done he broke it little pieces. I was devastated. I said oh know, not my bonded by blood album. It was very sad for me. Well anyway I had all the Metallica cassette tapes at that time. I sure wish I had my bonded by blood album again. I got the CD but I just want to get the album again. Paul Baloff and Cliff Burton RIP

[@Failhaid]

@seekah1 No Problem, Dude.Glad you like it ;-)

[@BudhaBluffa]

Respect man, I'm glad there's rad dudes like you out there. if you're ever in toronto ontario you gotta a dude to thrash with. FUCKKKINGGG MEEEETTTAAALLLLL!!!

[@LeanLowPwnz]

cool stuff

[@HC-qt7ie]

God bless Kirk

[@jevation]

Bonded by Blood, true metal lives forever!

[@jonnyjib]

very cool

[@Jeetkunow]

Kirk is the only reason I do not dislike Metallica. Plus he makes bank so he has no reason to worry about what people say!

[@patrickshannon4516]

He is that baby on bonded by blood the other one is Paul Baloff

[@blaspherian]

HAIL BALOFF!

[@SchizophobicBand]

That story about how they got the title of Bonded By Blood is great

I've had the honor - and the pleasure - to party a few times at Ballof's Piranha's Hell House studio on San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, after their gigs. Kirk and James were there every time. Those were the times, y'all!

[@sonofject]

RIP Paul Baloff Thrash Metal will never die EXODUS \m/

[@moonmadness9465]

This made me like Kirk Hammett again.

[@Failhaid]

@templeofbone not in this video, i think...but on the Nimes-Live-DVD it looks pretty much like Make-Up

[@Failhaid]

@nando88 when kirk was in exodus, they had a little different style...yet thrashy but waaaay more hardrock influenced (like UFO, and the other bands that kirk mentionend)....today exodus has a much more aggressive style - especially since rob dukes is in the band....i think exodus ALWAYS ruled - from the early 80's up to now ;-)

[@Hemotoxin]

I'm not sure if he does, I know he showed up before they went on and hung out with the guys in Broken Hope

[@6Goat6Skrote6]

long live baloff's music, and also, ufo kicks ass.

[@THEREALBONGMAN]

Sure do miss those days... #goodtimes

[@giotrapani2187]

If you think of it metal lost alot of people in the last decade and a half paul baloff Kevin dubrow jani lane Gary Moore a bunch of guys that I can't name

[@marioandluigi012345]

Peter Steele, Dimebag, Paul Grey, The Rev, Clive Burr, Dio, Jeff Hanneman, Chi Cheng, Layne Stayley, Mike Scaccia, Gar Samuelson...

[@kormendymatyas8667]

cliff burton

[@gregmeir]

I feel bad for kirk i was really close to him

[@HarvesterOfDeath07]

Its back then, when it was that easy, to approach someone you dont know, and make a band with them... -.-

[@Failhaid]

hehe i have that since day 1 of my youtube-account^^ ....actually i'm just to lazy to put new ones on it, that's why it is still there....but Overkill is still one of my favourite thrash-bands :-)

[@largesam72]

dude, that's cool how they got the name bonded by blood

[@oblonghas]

Bonded by blood, thats badass.

[@Failhaid]

don't know actually.....i found it on the metallica-homepage and looked if it was up here on youtube yet - it wasn't, so i put it up here ;-)

[@putridabomination]

The good old days

[@xDXPxJOEx456x1]

Paul baloff is my hero.

[@ArticSabbathGwar75]

Why did the doctors take Baloff off life support?

[@Mhz21]

i must say ....youre right..

[@7AcresOfHell]

You are sad aren't you Kirk?

[@kevinxsavagegm]

we salute you Paul. "older than shit, heavier than time."

[@Failhaid]

@NewHorrorfield i think it was shot just a few days after Pauls Death...(Kirk at 4:05 : Last Friday i got a call, sayin' that he's in the hospital....)

[@goretongue8764]

now i know the story behind my backpatch...awesome.