Thirty Years

Damn... 30 years ago today.. 10,950 days.  I wasn't going to post anything about this anniversary... but I decided I had to because.. you know... Cliff.

Thirty years ago today I was at home and it was a Saturday.  I got a call from my old friend Dave Marrs.  Dave had been an original member of the Metallica road crew from the first No Life 'Til Leather demo-era shows through the Ride The Lightning Tour.  I had not talked to him in awhile.  I was surprised he was calling me.

The next day I went and got the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle hoping there might be some mention of Cliff in the major hometown paper... and in the bottom corner of the general news section was this:

A very long time ago...

Damn, Cliff... 30 years!?  The first time I saw you play was when your old band Trauma supported Saxon at The Keystone Palo Alto.  I was up against the stage and when you were walking offstage I said something like "Great set!" and you looked down and thanked me.  Nine months later I met you before your first rehearsal with the new band and when the Danish drummer introduced us you said something like "I've been told about you!"   

Around a year after this we were at The Keystone Berkeley and Trauma were supporting Exodus.  When your old band played we both went to the front of the stage, because hardly anyone else was there yet, and we banged our heads practically by ourselves to your old bandmates.  You treated me like a friend from the first moment I met you... and I always appreciated how you treated me like a friend after that... even though I was just the nerdy Metalhead who wrote for those fanzines.

Anyway, cheers Cliff.  You will always be the Major Rager on the 4-String Motherfucker.

Photos by the teenage me:

"Bass solo.  Take one."

Murder On The Big Screen

Friends of Murder In The Front Row -

We wanted to let you know that production has started on the Murder In The Front Row documentary film. We are working with a director and producer who have a long history and list of credits documenting music and we think they're the perfect filmmakers to tell the story about the birth of our original Bay Area Metal scene. Thanks again for all of the support you’ve given the book and we'll keep you updated as this new project progresses.

Bonded by Blood!

From earlier today: Cliff's dad Ray Burton with Murder. Mr. Burton spent time today being interviewed for the film. We are so honored he was happy to contribute his insight and stories for us.

Fade To Black

The historic and bummer sequel to The Holy Grail.

Umlaut is a history geek.  I'm fascinated by how events that happened years ago can still influence and affect events now.  I'm also fascinated by how an event in history can hold your attention for years, even decades, because there's an existing mystery or lack of knowledge about its outcome.  One such subject is the video footage of Metallica's legendary set at Oakland Stadium on August 31, 1985:

Umlaut was down in front of the stage that warm August day and it was one of those rare events where I really did feel something special was happening... and that things were changing before my eyes.  Metallica went to another level that day... They really did. 

Every Metallica fan has dreamed and hoped that somehow the band's entire Day On The Green set was filmed.  Over these many years there have been rumors and old memories that the set probably wasn't completely filmed... After all, Metallica were still an underground band who were the 4th band on a 6 band bill.  However, that iconic 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' footage, and the couple of minutes of other footage, have kept the fires of hope burning in the minds of Metalheads... many of us who now have grey hair.  Well, now my friends, we finally have what I think is a definitive answer about this Holy Grail of Metal.

This week a photo surfaced courtesy of an old Bay Area Metal fan named Anthony Valadez:

There are a couple of important things about this photo... First, that denim vest clad guy in the photo pit is none other than my Murder In The Front Row co-author Harald O.!  Second, and sadly, there is no camera man at the video camera that was used to film the existing concert footage... which pretty much proves that Metallica's entire set was not filmed and captured for posterity.  Damn...

The band's setlist that afternoon was:

• Creeping Death
• Ride The Lightning
• For Whom The Bell Tolls
• The Four Horsemen
• Fade To Black
• Seek & Destroy
• Whiplash
• Am I Evil?
• Motorbreath 

Since the only footage that has surfaced are a couple of frustratingly brief snippets of 'Ride The Lightning' and 'Bells' I think it's safe to assume that the cameraman started filming during 'Ride' and stopped to go backstage and snort coke (or whatever concert video cameramen did back then) as 'The Four Horsemen' started.  Anyway... It is what it is after all these years.. so I guess we should just treasure the 5+ minutes that we do have from that iconic set and not dwell on "What If"...

"Life it seems will fade away... Drifting further every day.."

Thanks to Anthony Valadez for giving me permission to post his photo!

092786

Another September 27th.  Still relevant. 

Photo by the teenage me.

Off The Wall Crossover

Earlier this week Vans posted a cool video of our buddy James Hetfield meeting skate legend Steve Caballero at Metallica's secret Marin County Rock Star lair.


This caused Umlaut's head to go full circle (again).   Besides being a skate legend, everybody knows that Caballero also led the seminal San Jose skate punk band the Faction.  Flashback to June 16, 1985: Big Wayne and I were at a Faction show near downtown San Jose. The show was at a space called Clover Hall on Bascom Avenue.

Big Wayne had introduced me to Punk bands since the Metal scene was starting to get too big. People who used to belittle me about Metal (aka Jocks) were starting to show up at "our" Metal shows and it was bumming us out. So, Wayne and I drove around listening to Suicidal Tendencies, G.B.H., 7 Seconds, Discharge, the Adolescents, and a local band called the Faction. The Faction had fun songs to sing along to like 'Let's Go Get Cokes' and 'Tongue Like A Battering Ram'.

Anyway, we were at this Faction show and out of the blue Cliff Burton showed up. He was on his way to see a Rising Force (Yngwie Malmsteen) / Talas show not far down the road at the San Jose Civic. I had no interest in seeing Yngwie anymore. It was completely bizarre seeing Cliff at the very suburban Punk show but he hung out with us during the Faction before splitting for the Metal wank fest. Wayne remembers:

It was right after they changed the Coke recipe and they were selling old Coke at the show. I think Pariah opened?  I remember freaking out seeing Cliff because longhairs at Punk shows wasn't as accepted yet.."

Umlaut friend Sylvia and another friend were with Cliff that night. Sylvia remembers:

Someone tried to start a fight with Cliff, then recognized who he was. The kid then brought all his friends around to meet him. Cliff was cool about it. Cliff is forever aces in my book.

Anyway, 2 months later Metallica played the Day On The Green at Oakland Stadium (ironically on a bill with Rising Force / Yngwie) and everything changed completely.

"Let's go get cokes!"

Cliff

On display at The Fillmore in San Francisco during Metallica's residency there this week to celebrate the band's 30th Anniversary:


The sign reads: "This was the last bass he played 9/26/1986". It still has the last set of strings that he touched on it.

"Hypnotizing power... crushing all that cower.."

The Artifact

Several months ago my friend Dave handed me a poster tube when we were hanging out. I put it in the trunk of my car and forgot about the tube until the next day... and when I opened it a golden light shot out of it and a thousand angelic demons sang "Drift on numbered days..."

Two weeks ago:

Two weeks later:

Sacred shit, man. Sacred shit.

The Streets Of San Francisco

THE coolest memorial in the entire city...

(Pic by Umlaut)

It's somewhere in North Beach... but I'm not going to tell you where. Half the fun is finding it!

"Bass solo, take one..."

September 27th

[From the Umlaut Archives]

Not to dwell on this too much, but I just realized that this year marks the same amount of time since Cliff's passing (24 years) as the amount of time that he was alive. Trippy... Anyway, here's something else to try and wrap your head around: This is the poster for the show the band would have played in Copenhagen on the night of September 27, 1986 if they had arrived safely.

The show that never happened..
[Courtesy of K.J. Doughton]

Yes, this was all a couple of lifetimes ago, man... and, despite the nostalgia that tends to hang over this site, I really don't like to dwell on the past too much. Really, I don't... However, Umlaut will always be thankful he saw Cliff perform with Trauma and also saw him onstage 12x with Metallica... and, more importantly, I knew him as a friend. Sacred stuff, man... and, if anything, those times are something that help keep me grounded as the years roll on. Also, that night in Sweden came only 3 years almost to the day after this:

September 3, 1983 @ The Record Vault in S.F.
[From the Umlaut Archives]

• Kirk: "Lew Baby!!"
• Cliff: "Fuck All"
• Lars: "Sorry 'Bout 'Jump'!!"
• James: "Kill All!"

Trivia: Lars' comment is because I had told him how much I disliked 'Jump In The Fire' on Kill 'Em All compared to its original version as 'The Mechanix' on the No Life 'Til Leather demo. HAHAHAHA!!

Anyway, in keeping with the "Metallica In September" theme, here's something from September 14, 1985 at the Metal Hammer Festival in Germany to remind us all there once was a magnificent being known to us mortals as Cliff Burton who walked The Earth... Never forget.


Meanwhile, back in the 21st Century..... chew on this:

[Courtesy of K.J. Doughton]

"Right now, I'm using a Randall 300 watt head into: 1 Randall 1 x 18 cab and 1 road 2 x 18 cab."

"At this time I only use 2 effects. A Morley Power Ultra Boost and an MXR Limiter."

"I play a Rickenbacker 4001 bass. The 2 stock pickups have been replaced as follows: In the bass position there's a "Gibson EB" pickup. In the treble position, there's a "Seymore Duncan Stacked Jazz" pickup. I have also had a 3rd pickup installed in the bridge. It's a "Seymore Duncan Stacked Strat." Both Duncan pickups are "Humbucking" in design so they help reduce unwanted noise."

For The Geeks: This is the first thing Cliff ever wrote for the original Metallica Fan Club back in the Summer of 1983. His equipment rundown was printed alongside the rest of the band's in the first fan club newsletter.

"Bass solo. Take one."

No Credit

The exciting sequel to Art Phag!

Earlier this week Umlaut acquired the 50-page catalog from the auction of Heavy Metal artifacts and historical items hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe back in 2004. The auction took place on November 6, 2004 in New York City and featured items from the likes of Anthrax, Ozzy, Van Halen, Guns 'N Roses, KISS, Sepultura, and Metallica.

The auction catalog cover...

Of specific interest to Umlaut was the 15 PAGES of historical Metallica items dating from 1983-86 from the collection of the band's original manager and record label owner Johnny Z. The items ranged from hand written lyrics to each song from Kill 'Em All (written either by Larz or Cliff... Estimated value $1,000 / $2,000 each), to a copy of the band's original demo tape with the handmade insert card (Estimated value $2,000 / $4,000), to the original art for Master Of Puppets (Estimated value $3,000 / $5,000... Which was a bargain since the art was auctioned off again last year for $35,000!)..... and also THIS item:


It's a note written by Cliff featuring the iconic H.P. Lovecraft quote from his story 'The Call Of Cthulu" and his autograph (Estimated value $500 / $700). However, what makes this listing even more interesting to Umlaut is that the one of MY photos of Cliff was used without my fucking permission!! They should have at least made an effort to credit me. Fuck you very much Hard Rock Cafe...

Anyway.... Just another day in Metal.

Master Of Sandwiches

The following was sent by Umlaut friend Jim up in Oregon. It's from the menu of 3rd Street Pizza Company in McMinnville, Oregon:


One of these sandwiches is the major rager on the 4-string motherfucker.

23 Years Ago Today

It feels like it was a million years ago now, but THANKS to None But My Own for reminding Umlaut about this anniversary.

(From the Umlaut Archives)

Cliff.. always.

So Let It Be Written, So Let It Be Done

The exciting sequel to Summer Reading! In bookstores now:



Click HERE for the Amazon.com link. From the press release:

On September 27, 1986, METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton lost his life at the age of 24 in a coach crash near Ljungby, Sweden. In the 23 years since that devastating event, no one has chronicled Burton's huge talent and achievements in book form. However, in June 2009 this is set to change with the global publication of "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton", written by U.K.-based author Joel McIver and published by Jawbone Press. The foreword has been provided by Cliff's close friend in METALLICA, Kirk Hammett.

"I'm deeply honored that Kirk spoke to me for the Cliff Burton biography," says McIver, who has written 14 books since 1999, including 2004's bestselling "Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica". "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."

Other interviewees who spoke to McIver for this book, many for the first time on the public record, include Cliff's bass teacher Steve Doherty; legendary reporter and photographer Brian Lew; Bay Area headbanger Harald Oimoen, the subject of "The Ballad Of Harald O" by the infamous SPASTIK CHILDREN, in which Cliff played; that band's frontman Fred Cotton; EXODUS founder Gary Holt; the Metal Blade label founder Brian Slagel; photographer Ross Halfin; Cliff's first guitar tech Chuck Martin; METALLICA's first fanclub manager KJ Doughton; "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets" producer Flemming Rasmussen; the last reporter to interview Cliff, Jörgen Holmstedt; roadie and ex-METAL CHURCH guitarist John Marshall, who was also in the bus crash which killed Burton; Lennart Wennberg, the photographer at the scene of the crash; and Cliff's girlfriend for the last year of his life, Corinne Lynn.

After Kirk Hammett's foreword, separate introductions are provided by a range of musicians influenced by Burton, including Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH), Alex Webster (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT), Dave Ellefson (F5/ex-MEGADETH) and a host of other musicians and writers.

McIver's earlier book, "Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica", will be republished in its third edition in the summer by Omnibus Press. "Looks like that first METALLICA book has taken on a life of its own," comments the author. "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."

This will be a weird and surreal book for Umlaut to read... especially given recent events that dug up alot of old memories from that time when Cliff roamed The Earth.

Stay tuned.

Exclusive

Thanks to Umlaut friend Pam for this exclusive information:

Levi's Big Bells
W: 27
L: 36

Photo by Ross Halfin

Summer Reading

Heads up for your Summer reading list: Scheduled for publication in June is a biography of Cliff Burton by noted music journalist Joel McIver.


Those who know Umlaut are aware of my history with Metallica.. Long story short, Joel interviewed Umlaut as well as other key people from back in The Day in researching this book. Those times and Cliff's memory are sacred to me and I don't think I would have spoken to anyone else besides Joel on the subject.

Given his past work and his personal knowledge of the bands he writes about, I know Joel's book will be the definitive and accurate account of Cliff's life. Joel is a journalist... AND he's Old Metal.

Click HERE to pre-order the book via Amazon.com in the U.K.. Information about the U.S. release to follow.

Cliff Bass Solos - 1983-86

Updated on 2/9/09: Metal Hammer has published the first excerpt from Joel's book: