keith, evil dude
09-27-2004, 06:27 PM
18 years ago Cliff Burton, Metallica's bassist, was killed in a tragic accident.
…AFTER THE STOCKHOLM show, the band hopped on the tour bus and into their bunks for the long drive to Copenhagen. On board were the four band members, along with drum tech Flemming Larsen, guitar assistants John Marshall and Aidan Mullen, and road manager Bobby Schneider. The driver, an Englishman who had been hired for the duration of the multi-country tour, was behind the wheel. About 6:30 a.m., the band members were awakened by a violent jolt. The vehicle had been in an accident, and was now lying on its side.
How did it happen? Marshall recaps the horror, and sheds some light on the question of what, exactly, occurred: “We were on a two-lane road. The bus went off to the right, and I think the driver overcorrected, cranking the wheel to the left to get us back on the road. The wheel grabbed, and the bus swung completely around. During this time, the tail of the bus was sliding, kind of fishtailing around and bouncing on its wheels. That was right when we all started to wake up. I think I bounced right out of my bunk. The bunks were like trays with foam in them. The foam was held in place by a wooden lip. When the bus started rocking, my back bounced across that lip. Afterwards, I could barely walk, it hurt so bad. The bus eventually slid to the dirt alongside the road. When the wheels caught, the bus rolled over on its side.”
Schneider had shattered two ribs. Lars had broken a toe. Kirk’s eye was blackened. Hammett, who’d blacked out after being thrown from his bunk, snapped to consciousness and made his way through a side emergency hatch. Outside, his eyes widened at the sight of Cliff, his body limp and lifeless, pinned under the bus. Cliff Burton, master bass player, composer, rager, and bandmate, was dead.
Later a crane was brought to the scene to lift up the bus, the band hoped Cliff could be saved. However, after lifting the bus up, it slipped back down. According to Mick Hughes, Metallica's sound engineer, no one was sure if Cliff was still alive at that point.
By afternoon, band and crew had checked into a hotel. The dazed group dealt with their anxiety in the manner they were most accustomed to: drinking. James broke two hotel windows and screamed, venting his rage. John remembers that he and Kirk were so shaken up that they slept with the lights on in their room that night. Two days later, Metallica, minus one, returned to America.
Cliff Burton was a master composer and overall cool guy. He is among one of my favortie musicians and holds my deep respect for being a decent human being.
His life will always be remembered.
And you can veiw his accomplishments, here. (http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5646/articles.html#Hardly_knew)
RIP Clifford Lee Burton
…AFTER THE STOCKHOLM show, the band hopped on the tour bus and into their bunks for the long drive to Copenhagen. On board were the four band members, along with drum tech Flemming Larsen, guitar assistants John Marshall and Aidan Mullen, and road manager Bobby Schneider. The driver, an Englishman who had been hired for the duration of the multi-country tour, was behind the wheel. About 6:30 a.m., the band members were awakened by a violent jolt. The vehicle had been in an accident, and was now lying on its side.
How did it happen? Marshall recaps the horror, and sheds some light on the question of what, exactly, occurred: “We were on a two-lane road. The bus went off to the right, and I think the driver overcorrected, cranking the wheel to the left to get us back on the road. The wheel grabbed, and the bus swung completely around. During this time, the tail of the bus was sliding, kind of fishtailing around and bouncing on its wheels. That was right when we all started to wake up. I think I bounced right out of my bunk. The bunks were like trays with foam in them. The foam was held in place by a wooden lip. When the bus started rocking, my back bounced across that lip. Afterwards, I could barely walk, it hurt so bad. The bus eventually slid to the dirt alongside the road. When the wheels caught, the bus rolled over on its side.”
Schneider had shattered two ribs. Lars had broken a toe. Kirk’s eye was blackened. Hammett, who’d blacked out after being thrown from his bunk, snapped to consciousness and made his way through a side emergency hatch. Outside, his eyes widened at the sight of Cliff, his body limp and lifeless, pinned under the bus. Cliff Burton, master bass player, composer, rager, and bandmate, was dead.
Later a crane was brought to the scene to lift up the bus, the band hoped Cliff could be saved. However, after lifting the bus up, it slipped back down. According to Mick Hughes, Metallica's sound engineer, no one was sure if Cliff was still alive at that point.
By afternoon, band and crew had checked into a hotel. The dazed group dealt with their anxiety in the manner they were most accustomed to: drinking. James broke two hotel windows and screamed, venting his rage. John remembers that he and Kirk were so shaken up that they slept with the lights on in their room that night. Two days later, Metallica, minus one, returned to America.
Cliff Burton was a master composer and overall cool guy. He is among one of my favortie musicians and holds my deep respect for being a decent human being.
His life will always be remembered.
And you can veiw his accomplishments, here. (http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5646/articles.html#Hardly_knew)
RIP Clifford Lee Burton