Cliff Burton

Burton was born in Castro Valley, California, to Raymond "Ray" (1925–2020) and Janette "Jan" Burton (1925–1993). He had two older siblings, Scott (1958–1975) and Connie. Burton's interest in music began when his father introduced him to classical music and he began taking piano lessons. In his teenage years, Burton developed an interest in rock, classical, country, and eventually heavy metal. He began playing the bass at 13, after his brother died from a brain aneurysm. His parents quoted him as saying, "I'm going to be the best bassist for my brother." He practiced up to six hours per day, even after he joined Metallica. Along with classical and jazz, Burton's other early influences varied from Southern rock and country to the blues. Burton cited Geddy Lee, Geezer Butler, Stanley Clarke, Lemmy Kilmister, and Phil Lynott as major influences on his style of bass playing.

Burton's final performance with Metallica on September 26, 1986 was hosted at Solnahallen in Stockholm, Sweden on the Damage Inc. tour in support of the Master of Puppets album. Their next scheduled show at the Saga Theater in Copenhagen, Denmark had their tour bus driving south overnight along European route E4 (now G 557). Band members complained that the bunks on their tour bus were unsatisfactory and uncomfortable. The story of how Burton won the bunk differs between the two band members; as Kirk Hammett stated on VH1's Behind the Music, he and Burton drew cards, and Burton picked the ace of spades, thereby getting the first choice of bunk. Burton told Hammett "I want your bunk". Hammett replied "Fine, take my bunk, I'll sleep up front, it's probably better anyway". However, Ulrich's version of the event was that Hammett and Burton drew straws, while Burton drew the long straw, winning the choice of bunk. Burton was sleeping when, according to the driver, shortly before 7 a.m. on September 27, the bus skidded off the road 12 miles [19 km] north of Ljungby, just north of Dörarp, and flipped onto the grass in Kronoberg County. With no safety restraints on the bunks, Burton was thrown violently through one of the windows of the bus, which fell on top of him right afterwards, killing him instantly. He was 24 years old. …