Metallica Releases First Ever Biography About Late Bassist

The first ever biography written about Metallica’s late bass player Cliff Burton is being sold through the band’s website right now for $20. "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton" chronicles Cliff’s time with the band including recording their groundbreaking first three albums.

The book, which was written by Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press, will also include a foreword by Metallica’s Kirk Hammett. Speaking with Blabbermouth.net, McIver says, "I'm deeply honored that Kirk spoke to me for the Cliff Burton biography. We talked about the rollercoaster ride of Metallica's early career which he and Cliff experienced, from the time that both men joined the band in early 1983 until Cliff's death three and a half years later. The impact that Burton had on the rest of Metallica, both musically and as an example of how to stick to your principles in the music industry, was profound — and Kirk provided a perspective on that impact which couldn't have come from anywhere else."

Additionally, Blabbermouth reports that the book will feature introductions from artists inspired by Cliff such as Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse, Alex Skolnick of Testament, Dave Ellefson of F5 and formerly of Megadeth, among others. The book will also feature rare photos and interviews from people who have never before spoken on public record such as Steve Doherty, Cliff’s bass teacher; K.J. Doughton, Metallica’s first fan-club manager; Flemming Rasmussen, the producer of "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets"; and Corinne Lynn, Cliff’s girlfriend before his death.

McIver is also responsible for penning another book about Metallica: "Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica." The book is going on to be republished this summer in its third edition by Omnibus Press. McIver comments, "Looks like that first Metallica book has taken on a life of its own. Since its publication five years ago it's been translated into nine languages: clearly there was a gap in the market for a fully comprehensive book on Metallica. Lars Ulrich told me recently that he's constantly asked to sign copies of it all over the world."

Report by David Lowe-Bianco.

Comments

[AEnima18]

Joel McIver is a very good rock/metal biog writer and I will definately be getting a copy!

[ImagineTheThorn]

Already got my copy. It's great.

[Raven_Flight]

I woudn't say "Metallica releases", at first I though it was another kind of dirty business, maybe related with Ulrich.
But it's good some writer put this all together.
Even the mighty Akerfeldt and Skolnick got some inspiration from Cliff, he surely is a big name on the whole genre.
Long live to Burton's legacy!

[enginehead]

Its surprisin that Ellefson was inspired by cliff, though its nice he's contributed to the book in my opinion.

[southern_stylin]

There's a very good chance that if you picked up a bass after 1983, you were inspired to do so by Cliff Burton.

[joshua029]

still miss that man musically...

[BurntGerbil]

southern_stylin wrote:

There's a very good chance that if you picked up a bass after 1983, you were inspired to do so by Cliff Burton.

Very true, I had already played guitar for a few years, but decided to take a stab at bass as a second instrument after listening to Orion

[Guitar_Jester]

joshua029 wrote:

still miss that man musically...

Dude, you were just 1 year old when he died.

[Rokeman]

I wasn't even born when he died, but out of all of Metallica's records, it was the first few that had the greatest impact on me, and Cliff's bass lines that took some things to the next level.

[SOApostasy]

It took them 23 years to write a biography about him?
Shit. After he died metallica started to lose their
thrash metal hue. (skip ahead 10 yrs to load. Don't get me wrong, I love the album, It's just not metal) The fact is Cliff WAS Metallica. KIll em all thru Master of puppets would have sucked without his input. Rest in peace, you metal mother-****er.

[Grudgeshredder]

SOApostasy wrote:
The fact is Cliff WAS Metallica. KIll em all thru Master of puppets would have sucked without his input.

Well, actually, Cliff also introduced them to alot slower bands that actually led them to what is the Black Album, and that led to Load and what not. Am I criticizing the man? No, he was a musical ****ing genius! I just get a little edgy when people say "Metalica went soft when Cliff died."

SOApostasy wrote:
It took them 23 years to write a biography about him?

I'm sure people had thier reasons for it. Keep in mind, that he wasn't AS recognized in 1986 at the time of his death as he is now. It was after the success of the Black Album that cause more people to pick up Kill "Em All-Master of Puppets and realize how much this man was a genius as previously stated. So that's probably why it took 23 years. Oh and don't get the impression I'm attacking you, I was just answering a question and putting in imput.

Also, next paycheck, I'm gonna go out and get this book, you can bet your ass on it

[Misar]

R.I.P. Cliff Burton!

[..NEM..]

Guitar_Jester wrote:

joshua029 wrote:

still miss that man musically...

Dude, you were just 1 year old when he died.

You DID notice that he/she wrote "musically", right?

[251]

i wil buy it, but when it will come here

[metalligeek093]

wow sounds awesome...i gonna have to get it