Who is the lead guitarist of the band Metallica?

Kirk Hammett is the lead guitarist of Metallica.

Hammett joined Metallica in 1983 after the band dismissed guitarist Dave Mustaine. Before that, he had co-founded the Bay Area thrash-metal band Exodus in 1979 and had studied guitar with Joe Satriani. His arrival came just as Metallica was developing the material that would become its early classic albums.

Hammett is known for supplying many of Metallica's lead guitar solos while James Hetfield generally handles rhythm guitar and vocals. Hammett also contributed riffs and songwriting ideas to songs across the band's catalog, including material associated with Ride the Lightning and the 1991 album Metallica.

The main potential confusion is with James Hetfield, who is also a guitarist and a central songwriter, but is primarily identified as Metallica's vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Dave Mustaine was an early lead guitarist, while Cliff Burton was the band's bassist.