Cliff Burton

Latest about Cliff Burton

Morley Ccliff Burton fuzz wah reissue 20224
“Cliff Burton’s secret weapon, modernized to grow his legacy”: Morley reissues Cliff Burton’s trademark wah fuzz pedal in tribute to the revolutionary Metallica bassist

By Phil Weller Published

Housing Burton’s signature “old-school ripped speaker” tone, as heard on For Whom the Bell Tolls, the reissue is enhanced with modern features including switchless activation and a glow-in-the-dark treadle

Effects & Pedals
Les Claypool backstage on August 4, 1995 in New York City, New York. Lars Ulrich of Metallica performs at Royal Arena on February 3, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
“Lars said, ‘You’re not really used to this kind of music, are you?’” Les Claypool on his failed Metallica audition

By Joel McIver Published

According to James Hetfield, Les Claypool was “too good” for the thrash metal giants

Bassists
Bass guitarist Cliff Burton (1962-1986) and guitarist Kirk Hammett pose for a studio portrait during the Damage, Inc. Tour on April 4, 1986. Geddy Lee of Rush attends the 32nd Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center on April 7, 2017.
When Cliff Burton met Geddy Lee: “He started pacing, he started smoking pot, and he was like, ‘Oh my God!’”

By Nick Wells Published

Kirk Hammett remembers when Rush frontman Geddy Lee showed up at a Metallica show

Bassists
Cliff Burton (1962-1986), performs at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago, IL during the Damage, Inc. Tour on April 5, 1986.
Cliff Burton wrote one of Metallica’s heaviest riffs on a de-tuned classical guitar

By Nick Wells Published

Kirk Hammett: “To this day, I think: ‘How did Cliff write that?’”

Artists
Cliff Burton (left) and James Hetfield perform onstage with Metallica
Metallica’s Robert Trujillo: “Cliff’s approach was, ‘I’m gonna play what I feel, and if you don’t like it, screw you!’”

By Nick Wells Published

Trujillo remembers bass guitar’s ultimate metal maverick, Cliff Burton

Bassists
Cliff Burton (left) and James Hetfield perform onstage with Metallica
From the vaults: former Machine Head bassist Adam Duce on the tone secrets of Cliff Burton

By Joel McIver Published

“He had a Stratocaster pickup hidden under the bridge of his Rickenbacker”

Bassists
Cliff Burton of Metallica and Jim Martin of Faith No More perform live
A year before he joined Metallica, Cliff Burton was in a college band with Faith No More’s Jim Martin – watch them jam For Whom the Bell Tolls at a battle of the bands

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated

In 1981, the two childhood friends embraced improvisatory psychedelic chaos as Agents of Misfortune – and their epic jam sessions gave birth to several future classics along the way

Artists
Cliff Burton performs with Metallica at the Poplar Creek Music Theater in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on July 13, 1986
Hear Cliff Burton blend sweeping, Eddie Van Halen-esque hammer-ons with Hendrixian distorted runs in his final show with Metallica

By DO NOT USE: Joe Bosso Published

The fateful show took place at the Solnahallen in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 26, 1986, and shows the incredible live form Metallica were in after Master of Puppets

Concert, Gigs & Tours
Cliff Burton and James Hetfield onstage with Metallica
How Cliff Burton shaped Metallica's expansive thrash assault – and changed the sound of metal bass guitar forever

By Joel McIver Published

We celebrate Burton's career, and dig into his tones and talents with the help of Metallica’s incumbent bassist, Robert Trujillo

Bassists
Cover of Bass Player 424
Bass Player meets Metallica: Robert Trujillo salutes our cover star Cliff Burton

By Joel McIver Published

We explore the Burton legend, reveal the secrets of his playing and head to Sweden to visit the new Cliff museum

Bassists
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