Cliff Burton Quick Info | |
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Height | 6 ft 1¼ in |
Weight | 80 kg |
Date of Birth | February 10, 1962 |
Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Eye Color | Green |
Cliff Burton was an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as one of the bass guitarists of the thrash/heavy metal band, Metallica. He joined the band in December 1982 after the previous bassist, Ron McGovney left of his own volition. With that, he became the 4th member of the band alongside Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Dave Mustaine. Cliff was scouted at an event playing for his previous band, Trauma by Lars, Ron, and James, who heard him getting into an amazing solo and immediately knew he would be hired. One of the tracks he recorded with Trauma titled Such a Shame, also ended up on the Metal Massacre Vol. 2 album compilation of songs by underground bands at the time released in 1982. After a debut demo, Megaforce, and the band’s relocation to Old Bridge, New Jersey to record a debut album, Cliff, as part of Metallica, released his debut studio album, Kill ‘Em All in 1983.
The track that James, Ron, and Lars heard him “shredding” in 1982 became a solo instrumental song on the album under the name (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth and was the one Cliff became widely recognized for. In 1983, Dave was replaced by Kirk Hammett, who became a lead guitarist and helped with songwriting. Cliff’s skills as a songwriter also grew and shone through on the band’s 2nd studio album, Ride the Lightning, released in July 1984, where he was credited for writing 6 out 8 songs on the album. Cliff’s bass guitar skills and those of the entire band didn’t go unnoticed and Metallica signed a record deal with Elektra Records, which was considered a major record label. Their 3rd studio album, Master of Puppets, released in March 1986, became regarded as a “landmark album in heavy metal”. It also contained Cliff’s favorite track, which was the title song, Master of Puppets, but would, unfortunately, be his last album. After his death in September 1986, he was replaced by Jason Newsted.
Born Name
Clifford Lee Burton
Nick Name
Cliff

Age
Cliff Burton was born on February 10, 1962.
Died
Cliff Burton passed away on September 27, 1986, in a traffic accident in Dörarp, Ljungby Municipality, Sweden. After the band wrapped up a performance at the Solnahallen Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 26, 1986, they hit the road the next morning. At around 7:00 A.M., the driver of the tour bus lost control and the vehicle flipped onto the grass. Since Cliff was sleeping on the seat in the front, he was thrown through the window and the bus fell on top of him, which led to his unfortunate death.
Sun Sign
Aquarius
Born Place
Castro Valley, California, United States
Nationality
Education
Cliff attended Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley, Alameda, California, United States and graduated in 1980.
After graduation, he enrolled in Chabot College in Hayward, California, United States.
Occupation
Musician, Songwriter, Singer
Family
- Father – Ray Herbert Burton
- Mother – Janet “Jan” (Morgen) Burton
- Siblings – Scott Burton (Older Brother) (He died in May 1975 from a brain aneurysm), Connie Burton (Older Sister)
- Others – Paul Oliver Burton (Paternal Grandfather), Mary Sallie Lenoir (Paternal Grandmother), Irwin Morgenstern/Morgen (Maternal Grandfather), Marion Rosenthal (Maternal Grandmother), Oliver Philmore “Arby/Obby” Burton (Paternal Great-Grandfather), Sarah L. “Sallie” (Paternal Great-Grandmother), Peyton R. “Pate” Lenoir (Paternal Great-Grandfather), Mattie J. Ward (Paternal Great-Grandmother), Millard Morgenstern (Maternal Great-Grandfather), Matilda Lewis (Maternal Great-Grandmother), Sigmund Rosenthal (Maternal Great-Grandfather), Idella Lang (Maternal Great-Grandmother)
Genre
Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal
Instruments
Bass Guitar, Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Labels
- Megaforce Records
- Elektra Records
Build
Slim
Height
6 ft 1¼ in or 186 cm
Weight
80 kg or 176.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Cliff Burton has dated –

Race / Ethnicity
White
He had English and some Welsh ancestry on his paternal side and Ashkenazi Jewish (Czech Jewish, German Jewish) ancestry on his maternal side.
Hair Color
Light Brown
Eye Color
Green
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Long curly light brown haircut
- Always wore ripped jeans and a T-shirt

Best Known For
- Being the bassist for the heavy/thrash metal band Metallica between December 1982, when he replaced Ron McGovney, and September 1986, due to his unfortunate death in a tour bus accident
- Releasing 3 studio albums with Metallica titled Kill ‘Em All (1983), Ride The Lightning (1984), and Master of Puppets (1986)
First Album
Cliff Burton, as part of Metallica, released his debut studio album, Kill ‘Em All on July 25, 1983, through Megaforce Records. The name of the album was supposed to be Metal Up Your Ass but the record label insisted the band change it. When Cliff heard of the news, he said: “We should just kill ’em all, man,” which they liked and adopted. It consisted of 10 tracks on 2 sides with Side 1 containing songs such as Hit the Lights, Motorbreath, Jump in the Fire, (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth, The Four Horsemen, and Whiplash, while the Side 2 contained tracks Metal Militia, Seek & Destroy, No Remorse, and Phantom Lord. The album didn’t enter the Billboard 200 chart initially but peaked at number 155 in 1986, after the commercial success of their 3rd studio album, Master of Puppets.
Cliff Burton Favorite Things

Cliff Burton Facts
Featured Image by Gene Ambo / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 2.5
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