Clifford Lee Burton 1962-1986
Clifford Lee Burton 1962-1986



Clifford Lee Burton was born in 1962. He is the well-known late bassist for Metallica. Cliff joined the band in 1982 after the original bassist, Ron McGovney, grew tired of Dave Mustaine's drinking and left. One of Cliff's masterpeices is his bass solo "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" on Metallica's "Kill 'em All" album.

On September 27, 1986, the band was doing a small European tour. Burton and guitarist Kirk Hammett had had a small dispute over sleeping arrangements on the tour bus, so they decided to draw cards. Cliff drew the Ace of Spades, looked at Kirk and said, "I'm sleeping in YOUR bunk!" Later that night, the tour bus skidded off and back on the road. Burton was thrown out the window. The bus tipped over and landed on him. According to the driver, the bus hit some black ice, even though singer/guitarist James Hetfield walked miles looking for it and couldn't find any. He was ready to kill the driver. Hetfield recalls, "All I was thinking was that he was driving and Cliff wasn't alive anymore." Burton was succeded by former Flotsam and Jetsom bassist Jason Newsted a few months later.

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