Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
February 10th, 2018 has officially been proclaimed Cliff Burton Day. This would have been the late Metallica bassist’s 56th birthday.
Fans began a Change.org petition to recognize Burton’s birthday in his hometown of Castro Valley, California, and now the legendary band has confirmed the petition’s (pictured below) success. Metallica confirmed via Twitter:
“It’s official! The Board Of Supervisors from Alameda County has just proclaimed February 10, 2018, which would have been Cliff’s 56th birthday, ‘Cliff Burton Day.’ Thanks to all of the fans who got behind this initiative. We love that he remains so revered.”
Burton was born and raised in the Castro Valley. He joined Metallica in 1982 and played bass on 1983’s ‘Kill ‘Em All’, 1984’s ‘Ride The Lightning’, and 1986’s ‘Master Of Puppets’. He received posthumous writing credits on ‘…And Justice For All’‘s track “To Live Is To Die.”
On September 27th, 1986, Clifford Lee Burton died in a bus accident in Kronoberg County, in southern Sweden, as the band toured in support of the ‘Master Of Puppets’ album.
