Cliff Burton was a legend way before he joined Metallica. Here’s why

Before joining Metallica, Cliff Burton had already built a reputation as a committed and unusually skilled bassist through early bands, close musical friendships and intensive study. The article traces how personal loss and wide-ranging musical influences helped shape the musician who would later become a metal legend.

Burton took up bass at 13 after his older brother Scott died, saying he wanted to become “the best” in his honour. He formed Fry By Nyte with future Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin, then joined EZ-Street, where guitarist Jim Martin recalled that Burton was already far better than his bandmates. He also studied with jazz musician Steve Doherty, learning technique, music reading, Bach, unusual time signatures and classical theory; after EZ-Street faltered in 1981, he studied classical music and theory at Chabot College.