Ernie Ball Artists Team up for Rolling Stone’s Musicians on Musicians Edition

Last week, Rolling Stone launched their Musicians on Musicians special edition — where two artists of similar musical upbringings sit down to discuss their careers as musicians and the process of making their craft. The edition features conversations with Lana Del Rey and Elton John, Lenny Kravitz and H.E.R., Diddy and DJ Khalid, plus many more.

After its release, we were excited to see that notable Ernie Ball artists had collaborated on the edition, including hard rock and metal artists St. Vincent and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, plus namesake duo Billie Eilish and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong.

Outfitted in matching mechanic shirts with “Billie” embroidered over the pocket, our expectations were exceeded when the unlikely duo of Billie Eilish and Billie Joe Armstrong came together. As they sit in the backseat of Armstrong’s ’63 Ford Falcon, the two discuss the importance of remaining genuine, staying sane on tour, and how they both don’t believe in giving (or receiving advice).

Although their debuts lie 25 years apart, the impact they’ve had on their generations is almost mirrored. Both speak to the hardship of growing up, while also not being afraid to give a voice to social and political issues.

While meeting up in a small restaurant in Sonoma, CA, St. Vincent (Annie Clark) and Kirk Hammett sit down and rave over one another’s unique talents. Hammett praises “the layering, the production, the guitar sounds, the cool dynamics” of St. Vincent’s 2017 album, MASSEDUCTION, while Clark reveals to Hammett the story of how she ditched the violin for the guitar thanks to Metallica.

The conversation unveils the genuine appreciation both have for one another’s art while highlighting the almost intuitive approach they take to guitar playing.

You can read the full conversations between the iconic duos here.

Gear

Billie Joe Armstrong relies on Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys, while Billie Eilish rocks Hybrid Slinky on electric guitar and our new nylon ukulele strings.

Kirk Hammett keeps things heavy with RPS Regular Slinky, and St. Vincent stays to her tried and true Regular Slinkys.