Heavy Metal Musician. He was the bassist for the influential San Francisco-based heavy metal-thrash metal band "Metallica." After guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich met and became friends, they wanted to start a band. To fill the bass player position, they called on Cliff Burton, who was already in his own band, to replace bassist Ron McGovney. Hetfield and Ulrich convinced him to join them only after agreeing to move to his hometown. Later, guitarist Kirk Hammett joined the band to replace guitarist Dave Mustaine (who would find great success as the leader of the band 'Megadeth'). 'Metallica' then produced three successful albums ("Kill 'Em All," "Ride The Lightning" and "Masters of Puppets"), toured constantly, and garnered a huge and devoted following in the process. In September 1986, while riding on their tour bus to Stockholm, Sweden, their next tour stop, the band's bus had an accident, flipped on its side and killed Cliff Burton instantly. After a brief period of inactivity, the band decided to continue, which they felt would have been Cliff Burton's wishes. He was replaced by bassist Jason Newsted, formerly of the band "Flotsam and Jetsam." Now considered a pioneer of heavy metal bass playing, Cliff Burton has gained legendary status in the genre with both fans and musicians alike. Ulrich, Hammett and Hetfield continued to use material written by Cliff Burton on several more of the bands releases. In 2009, Burton was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica. In 2016, on the 30th anniversary of his passing, a monument was dedicated near Ljungby, Dörarp, Sweden close to where the accident happened.
Heavy Metal Musician. He was the bassist for the influential San Francisco-based heavy metal-thrash metal band "Metallica." After guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich met and became friends, they wanted to start a band. To fill the bass player position, they called on Cliff Burton, who was already in his own band, to replace bassist Ron McGovney. Hetfield and Ulrich convinced him to join them only after agreeing to move to his hometown. Later, guitarist Kirk Hammett joined the band to replace guitarist Dave Mustaine (who would find great success as the leader of the band 'Megadeth'). 'Metallica' then produced three successful albums ("Kill 'Em All," "Ride The Lightning" and "Masters of Puppets"), toured constantly, and garnered a huge and devoted following in the process. In September 1986, while riding on their tour bus to Stockholm, Sweden, their next tour stop, the band's bus had an accident, flipped on its side and killed Cliff Burton instantly. After a brief period of inactivity, the band decided to continue, which they felt would have been Cliff Burton's wishes. He was replaced by bassist Jason Newsted, formerly of the band "Flotsam and Jetsam." Now considered a pioneer of heavy metal bass playing, Cliff Burton has gained legendary status in the genre with both fans and musicians alike. Ulrich, Hammett and Hetfield continued to use material written by Cliff Burton on several more of the bands releases. In 2009, Burton was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Metallica. In 2016, on the 30th anniversary of his passing, a monument was dedicated near Ljungby, Dörarp, Sweden close to where the accident happened.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Burton memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
