Cliff Burton

Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986) was an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar in the thrash metal band Metallica from 1982 until his death in 1986.

Cliff Burton
Burton in 1983
Background information
Birth name	Clifford Lee Burton
Born	(1962-02-10)February 10, 1962 Castro Valley, California, United States
Died	September 27, 1986(1986-09-27) (aged 24) Ljungby Municipality, Sweden
Genres	Thrash metal, speed metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Bass
Years active	1979–1986

Burton's early musical journey includes performing in bands such as EZ-Street and Agents of Misfortune. He was discovered by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich while performing in Los Angeles, who asked him to take over the place of the bassist of Metallica at the time, Ron McGovney.

A memorial plaque or grave to honour his legacy.

He died during a European tour in Sweden on September 27, 1986 when Metallica was celebrating the success of their album Master of Puppets. The band’s tour bus skidded off the road and flipped over. Burton was thrown out of the bus window and the bus fell on him. They attempted to rescue Burton from underneath the bus by lifting it with a crane, but the crane slipped, and the bus landed down on top of Burton a second time.^[1] By that time, he was already dead at just 24 years old.

Early life

Burton was born in Castro Valley, California. He was born to Raymond "Ray" (1925–2020) and Janette "Jan" Burton (1925–1993). He had two older siblings, Scott (1958–1975) and Connie. Burton's liking in music began when his father introduced him to classical music and he began taking piano lessons.

Burton started having an interest in the genres of rock, classical, country and then heavy metal during his teenage years. After the death of his brother, who died from a brain aneurysm,^[2] he started playing the bass at age 13. He practiced his bass up to six hours per day (even after joining Metallica). His parents quoted him as saying, "I'm going to be the best bassist for my brother."^[3] Along with classical and jazz, Burton's other early influences varied from Southern rock and country to the blues.^[4]

Burton cited Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, Stanley Clarke, Lemmy Kilmister, and Phil Lynott as big influences on his style of bass playing.^[5]

Discography

With Metallica

Studio albums

• Kill 'Em All (1983)
• Ride the Lightning (1984)
• Master of Puppets (1986)
• ...And Justice For All (1988) (posthumous writing credit on "To Live Is to Die")

Video

• Cliff 'em All (1987)

Demos

• No Life 'til Leather (1982) (credited but does not play)
• Megaforce (1983)
• Ride the Lightning (1983)
• Master of Puppets (1985)

Compilations

• Garage Inc. (1998) (featured on "Am I Evil?" and "Blitzkrieg" only)