When Cliff Burton died in a bus rollover in 1986, Metallica died with him. Burton was just 24 then, a throwback already with his center-parted long hair and bellbottom jeans. He wasn’t Metallica’s original bassist — Ron McGovney was — and was only part of Metallica for three years, but his unique style was as integral to Metallica’s sound as anyone else’s. He would have been 50 years old today. Cliff ‘Em All.

When Cliff Burton died in a bus rollover in 1986, Metallica died with him. Burton was just 24 then, a throwback already with his center-parted long hair and bellbottom jeans. He wasn’t Metallica’s original bassist — Ron McGovney was — and was only part of Metallica for three years, but his unique style was as integral to Metallica’s sound as anyone else’s. He would have been 50 years old today. Cliff ‘Em All.

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