One of Metallica’s earliest albums was inspired by author Stephen King.
Guitarist Kirk Hammett says the band’s sophomore album Ride The Lightning is named after a line from King’s The Stand, about a character is about to be executed by the electric chair.
“One huge thing about my personal connection with Stephen King occurred when I was reading a chapter in The Stand,” Hammett explained. “The chapter had a guy in prison who was waiting to ‘Ride The Lightning’, and I just thought ‘oh my God, what a cool collection of adjectives and nouns that is!’
“I told James [Hetfield], he thought the same, and the rest is Metallica history! Pick up a copy of The Stand if you’re obsessive enough and find the chapter about a guy on death row where King actually writes the words,” Hammett continued.
The admiration is mutual – King is a big Metallica fan and was even a fan club member back in the day.
