When Cliff Burton's spirit left this world, I wasn't old enough to even know who he was. Little did I know that within a year his music would impact me, scare me, stick inside my head and never leave me. Master of Puppets will forever be a all time Top Ten record for me and his other work with Metallica is among the most influential music of the last thirty years even beyond the realm of metal.
It's hard to believe that it's been twenty-five years since that fateful day, even more eye opening is the fact he has been dead longer than he was alive. He is missed however will never be forgotten due to his music and influence.
I've previously written about Cliff a number of times:
- Here's a brief piece I wrote on Burton in July of 2009
- My thoughts on the band's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- My review of Joel McIver's superb bio on Burton, a must read if you haven't read it.
- My friend Tom's superb piece on Cliff from 2006 (updated in 2009)
- Tom's superb 2008 interview with Lars Ulrich which they discuss Cliff
- A antiMUSIC news item on MURDER IN THE FRONT ROW, Brian Lew's superb new book documenting the San Francisco metal years of the early 1980's where he has pictures from the first jam Cliff did with Metallica. Info and ordering details here.
- Lastly, my review of Mick Wall's excellent bio on the metal masters, ENTER NIGHT from earlier this year.
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