Clifford Lee Burton
(February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986)
was an
American musician
who served as
the bassist
for the heavy metal band
from 1982
until his death in 1986.
He is renowned for his
musicianship and influence.
Burton's early musical ventures
include performing in bands
such as
EZ-Street
and
Agents of Misfortune,
and frequently collaborating
with guitarist
Jim Martin.
He was discovered by
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich
while performing in
Los Angeles,
who asked him to
replace bassist
Ron McGovney
in Metallica.
After the release of
their first two albums
Kill 'Em All
(1983)
and
Ride the Lightning
(1984),
Burton and Metallica
achieved their
worldwide breakthrough
with
Master of Puppets
(1986),
often cited as both
the band's
best work
and one of the
best metal albums.
While touring in 1986
to support
Master of Puppets,
Burton died
following a bus crash
in Sweden.
He received posthumous
writing credits on
...And Justice for All
(1988)
for the song
"To Live Is to Die"
He was posthumously
inducted to the
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame
as a member of
Metallica
in 2009.
He also appeared
in a 2011
reader poll from
Rolling Stone
recognizing the
greatest bassists
Of All Time
DEATH
Burton was sleeping when,
according to the driver,
shortly before 7 a.m.
on
September 27,
the bus skidded off
the road 12 miles
[19 km]
north of Ljungby,
just north of Dörarp,
and flipped onto
the grass in
Kronoberg County.
With no safety restraints
on the bunks,
Burton was thrown
violently through
one of the windows
of the bus,
which fell
on top of him
right afterwards,
killing him instantly.
He was 24 years old.
The bus driver said that
the crash was caused by
the bus hitting a patch of
black ice on the road,
but Hetfield later stated
that he first believed
the bus flipped because
the driver was drunk.
Hetfield also stated that
he walked long distances
down the road
looking for black ice
and found none.
When local freelance
photographer
Lennart Wennberg
who attended the
crash-scene
the following morning
was asked in a
later interview
about the likelihood
that black ice
caused the accident,
he said it was
"out of the question"
because the
road was dry
and the temperature
around 36 °F
(2 °C),
above the freezing point
of 32 °F
(0 °C).
This was confirmed
by police who,
like Hetfield,
also found
no ice on the road.
Ljungby detective
Arne Pettersson
was reported in a
local newspaper
to have said the tracks
at the accident site
were exactly like ones
seen when drivers
fall asleep
at the wheel.
However,
the driver stated
under oath that he
had slept during the day
and was fully rested;
his testimony was
confirmed by the driver
of a second tour bus
that was carrying
the band's crew
and equipment.
The driver was
determined not at fault
for the accident
and no charges
were brought
against him.
Burton's body
was cremated
and the ashes
were scattered at
the Maxwell Ranch.
At the ceremony,
the song
"Orion"
was played
Last show
with
Cliff Burton,
who died on
Sept 27, 1986.
James' first show
playing guitar again
after breaking
his wrist
on July 26th
TRACKLIST
CD 1
The Ecstasy Of Gold
Battery
Master Of Puppets
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Welcome Home
(Sanitarium)
Ride The Lightning
(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
Whiplash
The Thing That Should Not Be
CD 2
Fade To Black
Seek & Destroy
Creeping Death
The Four Horsemen
Guitar Solo
Am I Evil ?
Damage, Inc.
Blitzkrieg
Fight Fire With Fire
James Hetfield And Cliff Burton
[1986 Interview]
Cliff Burton of Metallica
(death being reported on the Radio in 1986)
Cliff Burton
The Untold Story of His Final Days
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