When Metallica<\/strong> entered the studio in 1985 to craft what would become Master of Puppets<\/em>, few could have imagined the unexpected names hovering around the band at the time. But according to later interviews, prog legend Geddy Lee<\/strong> and shred virtuoso Joe<\/strong>Satriani<\/strong> both had surprising \u2013 if indirect \u2013 connections to the era that produced one of metal’s most defining albums.<\/p>\n Lee<\/strong> has confirmed long-standing rumors that he discussed the possibility of producing Master Of Puppets<\/em> while Metallica<\/strong> were preparing to record the 1986 classic.<\/p>\n “It’s sort of true. There was some discussion with Lars, back in the day, about working with them. This was before Master of Puppets<\/em> came out, I think?” Lee<\/strong> revealed in an interview with Noisey<\/em>. “There was talk, you know. I was friends with their management and I met Lars<\/strong> back in England.”<\/p>\n He also recalled seeing the band perform in Toronto during the early days, when bassist Cliff Burton<\/strong> was still in the lineup \u2013 prior to Burton<\/strong>‘s tragic death in a 1986 tour bus accident.<\/p>\n “I remember going to see them here in Toronto when they played at the Masonic Temple. That’s when the original bass player was still happening. You know, before that tragedy. And, you know, we talked about it and I liked their band a lot at that time. But it just never came together.”<\/p>\n Despite the mutual respect, the collaboration ultimately “just never came together.” Lee<\/strong> also admitted that while he admires Metallica<\/strong>, he was not deeply immersed in metal.<\/p>\n “I don’t listen to a lot,” he said. “Even though there’s an aspect of our sound that can be quite metal, I attribute it to early metal \u2013 in the way Led Zeppelin<\/strong>, Black Sabbath<\/strong> and Blue Cheer<\/strong> were metal.”<\/p>\n The idea of Lee<\/strong> \u2013 known for Rush<\/strong>‘s intricate progressive arrangements \u2013 producing the raw, thrash assault of Master Of Puppets<\/em> remains one of heavy music’s great “what ifs.” That and Les Claypool<\/strong> joining the band, but that’s a whole different thing. At least Geddy<\/strong> made the thank yous.<\/p>\n While Lee<\/strong>‘s involvement never materialized, Joe Satriani<\/strong>‘s influence was already embedded in Metallica<\/strong>‘s DNA.<\/p>\n Long before Master Of Puppets<\/em> and the band’s 1988 follow-up \u2026And Justice for All<\/em>, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett<\/strong> was studying under Satriani<\/strong> in the Bay Area. At the time, Hammett<\/strong> was already a capable player and a member of Exodus<\/strong> before joining Metallica<\/strong> in 1983.<\/p>\n Satriani<\/strong> recently reflected on Hammett<\/strong> as a student: “He was such a motivated young student\u2026 He knew exactly what he wanted and he was really hungry.”<\/p>\n As Metallica<\/strong>‘s career accelerated, Hammett<\/strong> reportedly began taking two lessons a week from Satriani<\/strong>. Remarkably, Satriani<\/strong> revealed that the final guitar lesson he ever gave was to Hammett<\/strong> in early January 1988 \u2013 just before Satriani<\/strong> launched his own solo career and shortly before Metallica<\/strong> began recording \u2026And Justice for All<\/em> in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n “He was actually my very last student,” Satriani<\/strong> recalled. “The very last lesson I gave\u2026 was to Kirk<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n Though their formal teacher-student relationship ended decades ago, the bond endured. Satriani<\/strong> fondly remembered sharing a massive bill in Quebec City years later, opening for Metallica<\/strong> before a crowd of 120,000 fans.<\/p>\n “There’s something special when you get to hang out with somebody where you both know where you came from and you’re amazed at where you wound up,” he said.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.<\/p>\nGeddy Lee: The Producer That Never Was<\/h2>\n
Joe Satriani: The Final Lessons Before Metal History<\/h2>\n