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| Home - Cliff Burton Memorial (Information provided by Rocky LaRock's Heavy Metal Files) Slight updates made by me. |
| Bio of Cliff: Clifford Lee Burton was born in San Francisco, California on February 10th of 1962. He was the son of Jan and Ray Burton, a couple of San Francisco hippies that from they Cliff took his image, his ideals, and most of all, his attitude. Cliff used to be a very relaxed and happy who liked to sit with his friends and beer, liked to chill out, and most of all, he loved to play with passion his favorite instrument: the electric bass guitar. On August 1982, a Californian band, whose luck went from bad to worse, heard from their manager and promoter, Brian Slagel, that a great bassist was playing with a band called Trauma at the famous Whiskey-A-Go-Go of Los Angeles. Quickly, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield went there to meet this talented bass player. They were so impressed by the way that guy played his bass guitar, that they didn�t hesitate in invite him to join their band. At the beginning, Cliff said he wasn�t interested, but after the insistence of Lars and James, Cliff agreed but only under the condition that the band relocate to San Francisco, for he disliked the environment of L.A. city. With all their problems, the band relocate to San Francisco, where they had a nicer receivement than in Los Angeles. And thus Cliff Burton passed to make part of one of the most important Thrash Metal Bands of all times: Metallica. The first Metallica�s jam session with Cliff was in soundman Mark Whitaker's place, who owned an studio-conditioned garage, and where James and Lars were living at. Short after, Jon Zazula, owner of an important record store, invited the band to play at the U.S. West Coast. Jony had tried before to get a record contract for Metallica, but after failed tries, Zazula founded his own record company called Megaforce Records, and had the honor to have Metallica as his first band signed ever. Back at Whitaker�s place, Metallica recorded a four-track demo, and on March 5th., 1983, they played with Cliff played for first time at The Stone, in San Francisco, before a huge audience, thus beginning three rich and unforgettable years in the life of Metallica. After their great success at The Stone, Metallica with Lars Ulrich on the drums, James Hetfield on vocals and rhythm guitar, Cliff Burton on the bass guitar, and Kirk Hammett on lead guitar, got back to the recording studio and launch to the public light their first record titled: "Kill Em All", which was produced by Paul Curcio, and immediately joined to Raven in a tour named: "Kill Em All For One Tour", which lasted 2 months and ended on September 3rd., 1983. During that tour, Metallica dedicated to write material for a new album. On February, 1984, the quartet visited Europe for the first time next to Venom, in a tour that started in Zurich, Switzerland and covered Germany, France and Belgium, to finally land at Aarshock Festival in Zwolle, Holland. Back at home, Megaforce Records launches Metallica�s 2nd. Album: "Ride The Lightning", which was produced this time by Flemming Rasmussen, and it�s considered as one of the fifteen essential Heavy Metal albums of all times. In it, once again Cliff displays his virtuosity on the bass guitar and gets consolidated as one of the world�s best bass players. "Ride The Lightning" turned around the entire globe, and with it, Metallica�s fame and glory was confirmed once again. 1986 predicted another great success for Metallica, as well (not so well) as one of the greatest tragedies in the world of Metal. The band was in Copenhagen recording its 3rd. Album next to Flemming Rasmussen. Finally, Metallica took over the world again with: "Master Of Puppets", a super production that is also considered within the fifteen essential Heavy Metal albums of all times. Short after, before a gig in Adamsville, James broke a wrist in an skateboard accident. The show was canceled, and for the rest of the tour, James sang with his arm on cast, while technical assistant John Marshall substituted him on the rhythm guitar. But this was just the beginning. James�s accident was announcing a major tragedy of fatal consequences. September of 1986. Metallica traveled by Europe promoting its new album, after an intense tour by the U.S. At the end of performances in Oslo, Norway, and Lund, Sweden, the night of September 26th., Metallica was moving in its 2 couches to Denmark, Lars Ulrich�s birth country. When boarding the vehicle where they�ll travel, the four musicians started fighting for the sleeping places, being Kirk Hammet�s the most disputed. |
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