Kirk Hammett lost his Porsche simply because of a promise made to assistant Tony Smith

In a tale that once seemed improbable, Metallica’s lead guitarist Kirk Hammett wagered his Porsche against the notion of the band’s album selling 10 million copies.

According to the legend, Metallica’s longtime tour manager Tony Smith assured Hammett that the band’s 1991 self-titled album, famously known as the Black Album, would eventually reach the 10 million mark in sales. Hammett, in a half-joking manner, responded that if such a feat were achieved, he would relinquish his Porsche.

The Black Album indeed became a monumental success, becoming one of the highest-selling albums of the Nielsen Soundscan era. Even 30 years later, it remаins a fixture on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2012, the RIAA certified the album as 16x platinum, signifying sales exceeding 16 million in the United States alone.

Shortly after the Black Album surpassed the 10 million sales milestone, Hammett fulfilled his promise to Smith by presenting him with an envelope containing the keys to his 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 4.

Reflecting on the moment, Hammett later recalled, “I told our tour manager during the Black Album era, ‘If it sells over 10 million copies, I will give you my Porsche.’ He called me up when it sold 10 million and one.”

The story resurfaced in a recent episode of the Metallica-themed podcast, Speak N’ Destrоy, where Whitechapel guitarist Ben Sаvаge expressed his surprise upon learning that the Metallica fan club was once based in his hometown. Further research revealed that Tony Smith, a British-born tour manager who served Metallica from around 1987 to 1999, played a significant role in the fan club’s establishment.

In addition to founding The Metallica Club in 1994, Smith contributed extensively to the fan club’s official magazine, So What! He explained in a 1996 online Q&A session that he was one of only two full-time employees of Metallica at the time. It was discovered that Smith’s connection to Knoxville, Tennessee, stemmed from his wife’s roots in the region.

The Porsche, along with other memorabilia from Smith’s time with Metallica, eventually made its way to online auction platforms. Hammett, understanding Smith’s need to sell the car due to health problems, gave his blessing, stating, “I gave it to you. You can do whatever you want with it.”

Hammett’s Porsche, a symbol of a memorable wager and an era of Metallica’s success, remаins a cherished artifact in the band’s storied history.