“I’m just happy to be out here and bringing the music to the people, man, like I always am. And I’m happy having the feeling of, like, Metallica is a working, touring band, ’cause sometimes I miss that feeling, ’cause I don’t believe we tour enough,” Hammett said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “But that’s just how it is. So, what I can get out of this, I’m always up for it. It’s just, like, ‘Yeah, bring it on.’ ‘Cause this is what it’s all about, is playing guitar and writing, recording, going out on tour. It’s what it’s all about. And I don’t feel that there’s enough of it in my life right now.”

When asked if the “M72” tour felt brand new after their break, Hammett replied that it felt more like a continuation. “Walking out to see the stage yesterday [in Munich, Germany] for the first time in about six months or so, it just felt like a continuation. Everything looks super familiar — familiar stage, familiar monitors, familiar screens, familiar crew, familiar faces, familiar guitars, familiar songs. It’s really easy for me to spot right into place.”

Hammett also discussed his show preparation routine, highlighting the collaboration with bassist Robert Trujillo and his fitness regimen: “I hook up with Rob during the day with final arrangements for the duets. And I’ll make sure I hop on a Peloton for about 20 minutes or so, ’cause I have knee issues, so that pedaling, I have to make sure my knee is nice and strong. And then once I get to the gig, I usually do my usual yoga thing. And my entire day is filled with sporadic guitar playing here and there.”