#Cliff Burton (R.I.P. 1986)

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Metallica, 1986.

[metalsongoftheday]

Friday, July 19: Metallica, "Phantom Lord"

R.I.P. Cliff Burton (1962-1986)

Before they or anybody else were labeled thrash, Metallica offered up an American response to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.  Their love for Diamond Head has been documented to the point of exhaustion, but they were just as likely to cover Savage, Blitzkrieg and Saxon in their early shows, and that manifested in the original material they cooked up for Kill ‘Em All.  “Phantom Lord” was pretty much a tribute to Savage and Motӧrhead even as Hetfield, Ulrich and Mustaine were rapidly charting fertile new territories: there was some Fast Eddie Clarke in the frantic but swinging riff, Lars was more of a percussion enthusiast than an actual drummer, and James barked and yelped like a California Cronos.  But there was also a distinct personality and point of view embedded in all the frenzy, not just an American perspective but also the idiosyncrasies of these individuals (Cliff wasn’t as prevalent here, but he wouldn’t fully assert his chops as both player and composer until the following year).  And that made “Phantom Lord” a crucial stepping stone for Metallica as well as a bridge between movements.

[adriheavymetal]

I miss You Cliff Burton 🎸💀⚡🤘😭

[1962dude420-blog]

Today we remember the passing of Cliff Burton who died on September 27, 1986 in Dörarp, Sweden.

Clifford Lee Burton was an American musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist for American heavy metal band Metallica from December 1982 until his death in September 1986.

Burton performed on the band's first three studio albums: Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. He also received a posthumous writing credit for the song "To Live Is to Die" from the band's fourth studio album, ...And Justice for All.

In Sweden, on the Damage Inc. tour in support of Master of Puppets, the band members complained that the sleeping cubicles on their tour bus were unsatisfactory and uncomfortable. To decide who received pick of the bunks, Kirk Hammett and Burton drew playing cards. On the evening of September 26, 1986, Burton won the game with an ace of spades, thereby getting the first choice of bunk. Burton turned to Hammett and said "I want your bunk", Hammett then responded "Fine, take my bunk, I'll sleep up front, it's probably better up there anyway." Burton was sleeping shortly before 7:00 a.m. on September 27 when, according to the driver, the bus skidded off the road (the E4, 12 miles (19 km) north of Ljungby), and flipped onto the grass in Kronoberg County. Burton was thrown through the window of the bus, which fell on top of him, resulting in his death.

The bus driver said that the crash was caused by the bus hitting a patch of black ice on the road, but James 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, above the freezing point. 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.

[hrfraulein]

ORION

09/27/1986 R.I.P. Clifford Lee Burton Gone but not forgotten. 

@voodoochild002​ wanted to do something for Cliff’s death anniversary, so about time I post this..

[rockrageradio]

Cliff'em All! ‪On this day in Rock music history (Sept. 27th 1986).......we lost the one and only Cliff Burton. R.I.P. thanks for the music.

#soundcheckwithgentry #cliffburton #metal #rip #metallica #rockmusic #hardrock #rock #rockrageradio #classicrock #heavymetal

[hardwired-to-self-destruct]

Happy Birthday Cliff Burton!!! ❤❤

(February 10, 1962 – September 27, 1986)

R.I.P. 🖤

[releasedatesandfacts]

Did I “forget” Master of Puppets? Jesus!!!! THIS is THE Metallica record and was released on March 3 in 1986. Difficult for everything that came afterwards. The last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in Sweden during the album's promotional tour. ORION!!! R.I.P. Cliff Burton

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Cliff Burton (R.I.P. 1986)

[give-pete-a-chance]

“Orion” by Metallica

Metal Monday - R.I.P. Cliff Burton (1962-1986)

[metalsongoftheday]

Monday, July 4: Metallica, “Jump in the Fire”

R.I.P. Cliff Burton (1962-1986)

“Jump in the Fire” was a true outlier in the Metallica discography, featuring a swagger and strut they would never again actualize (even when they were actively attempting to do so 10 years later) and effectively spotlighting the work of three guitarists: the snakiness of the primary riff was pure Dave Mustaine, while the power chord charge and crunch was prototypical James Hetfield and the Schenkerisms in the leads could’ve only come from Kirk Hammett.  Kill ‘Em All was full of salutes to the glory of heavy metal, with the thrashiness largely coming from the low-budget production, and if “Motorbreath” and “Metal Militia” hewed closest to what thrash actually became while “Seek and Destroy” and “No Remorse” were effective Diamond Head pastiches, then this track was their UFO/MSG homage.  With that in mind, it was easy to appreciate and enjoy “Jump in the Fire” as another representation and celebration of Metallica’s early influences.

[big-low-t]

Metallica - [Anesthesia] --Pulling Teeth

September 27th, 1986, Metallica bass player Cliff Burton passed away in a tour bus accident. R.I.P.

[wknc881]

Album of the Week: Metallica - Master of Puppets

The third studio album by the (now) legendary Metallica, Master of Puppets is so important to the history of music generally, and the evolution of it specifically that in 2015 The United States Library of Congress preserved the recording in the National Recording Registry; the first heavy metal recording to do so. It was recorded September 1 – December 27, 1985 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was released on March 3, 1986 by Elektra Records.

Whereas Kill ‘em All (the band's first studio release) is straight-forward, in your face thrash metal, and Ride the Lightening (their 2nd release) evolved further into unchartered Metal waters (both of these records were heavily influenced by original lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine – Megadeth), Master is a full-blown leap off the map! The album is nearly universally praised as the best heavy metal album of all time, both inside and outside of the metal community. The record peaked at #29 on The Billboard Top 200, and was the first “Thrash Metal" album to be certified Platinum. It was certified 6X Platinum by RIAA in 2003.

Metallica was formed in Las Angeles, CA in 1981 (San Francisco has been the band’s base) by guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) was the original lead guitarist, but was fired just before the recording of Kill ‘em All. Cliff Burton was the original bassist until 1986 when, during their European tour, the band’s bus crashed in Sweden killing Burton. Kirk Hammett (Exodus) was tapped to replace Mustaine and has been a constant ever since. Jason Newsted (Flotsam and Jetsam) replaced Burton (R.I.P.), until January 2001. Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies; Infectious Grooves; Black Label Society) stepped-up in 2003 and has been a solid member on the bass to the present day.

Master stretched Metallica’s previous “thrash metal" sound, and invented a new one! A heavier, darker feel than any offering of it’s time. Hetfield’s vocals are deeper and chunkier and all guitars are drop tuned. The overarching theme of the record concerns control and the abuse of power (notice the cover art), as the title track suggests; as well as Battery, The Thing That Should Not Be, and Leper Messiah (directed toward the televangelists of the 80’s). Welcome Home (Sanitarium) expresses a result of such abuse. Disposable Heroes addresses the subject from the point of view of soldiers sent to endless wars on behalf of the elites. And Orion is a beautiful instrumental, composed by Cliff Burton, putting on full display his classical training. Don’t let my “beautiful” description fool you, though, this song is a beating; while Battery is the fastest, and The Thing That Should Not Be is the heaviest.

The “O.G. Metalhead" (a.k.a., my dad!) saw Metallica (with Cliff on bass) in 1986, in Binghamton, NY during the band’s first arena/stadium tour supporting Ozzy. “We had never heard of them. Upon seeing them perform, we had never seen or heard anything like it before! The rest is history!” I finally got to see them in Atlanta in 2018, and again right here in Raleighwood, January of this year (2019).

Favorite songs: Master of Puppets (duh!); The Thing That Should Not Be

Rating: 10/10!!

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

[itstheprogamet-blog]

R.I.P MetallicAs Bassist Cliff Burton 31 years ago Cliff Burton Passed Away Early Saturday Morning September 27 1986 The Band Was Traveling By Buss On A Road Between Stockholm And Copenhagen But The Bus Slid On A Patch Of Ice On The Road And Crashed On It’s Side The Band Tried To Save Cliff But He Didn’t Survive. He Died During The Band European Tour He Was Only 24 Years Old. The Metallica Family Will Always Remember And Love Your Amazing Base Playing Rest In Peace

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Metallica, 1986.