Cliff Burton (Metallica)

R.I. P
I like Zombie-man and Trujillo, but no one can ever be as good as Cliff was...

Cannot the Kingdom of Salvation Take Me Home

R.I.P.

He is easily the bast bassist in the world because he has fingers like picks! No wait... THREE PICKS! Like Kirk Hammett said.

Bass god- listen to the solo he does on 'Kill 'em All', then tell me he doesn't deserve to be here!

Because of Cliff, I play bass. Anesthesia(pulling teeth) was the first song I learned and has completely shaped my style which is warmly welcomed by any musician I jam with. I was like "What? You can do that with a bass? " But another reason why I am posting on the #1 spot is to say what?!?! What kind of simple idiots vote bassists from Avenged Sevenfold and my chemical romance over Jaco Pastorius and Victor Van Wooten? You obviously no nothing about bass and much less music in general. A good question to ask is why the hell are you even visiting this website? This isn't the place for you. You should just post your ignorant views on your favorite emo band page on facebook instead of soiling this page and delaying the progress of prospective bass playing youths who's naivety allows them to believe that they should learn from the musicians on this page in the order in which they are ranked. Pitiful.

This list has it problems, but it's the first one to have the right person on top (although my vote tied Jimi as #1 guitarist so hopefully he'll also be #1 soon). I grew up as a Headbanging, Mosh-Pit addicted, metalhead; but my musical taste has matured, immeasurably. However, there never was, nor with the downward path music is taking, will there ever be, a bassist in the league of Burton. It was said best on an independent biographical show, Burton was wearing bell-bottoms and listening to REM when it wasn't cool. All of the mature harmonies on Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppet's was all Cliff, despite the megalomanical attempts of Lars to control everything. The guy was a fan of Bach and other classical music; so musically diverse, so talented, so incredible, Cliff RIP, you were the man! Claypool rules too, and I think Cliff would be pissed to see Mike Mills (REM) isn't on here.

Easily the Greatest Bassist of all time. He played with extreme speed and displayed serious technical prowess on a Bass, Not only was he amazingly fast, a great composer and a master of techniques like Harmonics but his riffs sounded incredible. Michael Balzary(aka Flea) can't really even compare to him, especially since their styles of playing are on opposite ends of the spectrum, its like comparing a Quarter back to a Running Back, They're playing the same game but have totally different skills and roles. Flea combines some mean Funk/Punk combonations like the song "Get Up and Jump" but Cliff Burton was a metal god. If you disagree listen to "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" from the album Kill 'em All. Cliff Burton-Fast, Technical, Original RIP

I'm not just voting burton simply because he's the most popular, and I'm sure nobody else has voted him simply because he's currently number 1. he was in metallica for seek and destroy, ride the lightening and master of puppets, and wrote to live is to die, which were metallicas best albums and nothing other than death magnetic hav really come close to their 80's albums, after burtons death, metallica went rapidly down hill, theyve never really been the same since... that just shows that with burton, metallica were one of the best thrash metal bands of all time, without burton metallica has become lesser known for their newer stuff... thats how much of an impact burton had on metallica and his talent is shown in their 80's music

"Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth" is easily the greatest bass solo I've ever heard. Most bass solos get boring after about half a minute or so, just the same old thing over and over again - but Cliff really stole the show for over FOUR whole minutes. He also composed or aided in composing some of Metallica's best pieces, including my favorites, "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "Master of Puppets". His influence remained even in their first album after his death, And Justice for All. It's always broken my heart to see the how the band changed and flew through so many bassists after his passing. May he forever rest in peace, greatest bassist ever.

The thing I love about Cliff was he was not much of a "groove" player, he was metal through and through and people complain saying he played it like a guitar, well that just makes him even better and the amount of soul he put into his work, my god more soul than the 60's, 70's and 80's put together, Plus he had his bass strap low and constantly headbanging he just looked comfortable behind a bass, where as people like Wooten and Sheehan, amazing as they are they just don't look relaxed or comfortable behind a bass, all uptight and rigid. RIP Cliff

Honestly, this isn't because he's dead, it because he is one of the most influential bassists of all time, not because of he's style, but because of his technical difficulty, he played the exact same parts as james and kirk, but not just like a normal bassist, he played the same note for note, he also played guitar styled solos, with his fingers and a wah, when he played fwtbt live, he made up most of the intro riff, adding complex solos and incredible switches between strings, flea could never compare to cliff, R.I. P
'cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home'

Cliff mising you so much I m just 21 years when iwas listend metallica song I m the fan of metallica den I m going to search member names when I swa the news that cliff was die in 1986.. I was really shocked number 1 can hit the for whom the bells tune like cliff burton jason and rb are small child for cliff miss you cliff rest ipiece I love you so much I just wanna see metallica member in concert in neal its not possible god help me to see metallica concert cliiff was the best bassist an he will be forever

Cliff Burton was the most ingenious, creative and talented human being to ever pick up a bass guitar. The legacy he has left behind has blessed anyone who has cared to listen to it. The man was pure legend and his ability unsurpassed. Anyone who thinks there is a bassist out there, past or present who is/was as talented as Cliff, I pity you, for you are ignorant of what is plainly obvious... Cliff Burton was a God. He lives in every true metallers heart and soul! Rest in Peace amigo, you are sorely missed

These Moron's are choosing their favorite bands! The? Was "Best Bassist Ever" you idiots. Jaco at the bottom? Duh... What about Lee Rocker? He should place in the top ten on the planet for sure! Pull him up on You Tube along with Stanley Clarke and Jaco P. This is like asking a 2 year old "What are the best cars in the world"? -Hot Wheels! You get it now..

Cliff Burton is the best bass player in the world, simple as that. I mean, for a start you could actually hear what he was playing, plus it some times sounded like guitar playing and on top of all that, he music sounds good. Don't forget he was an amazing composer. Also to all those people that say he wasn't that good, remember, he died young, only leaving behind 3 albums. He didn't have the chance to release more music and prove how good he was.

Look at how he play. And don't blink. He plays with his fingers, not with picks. And also he play extremely fast. His bass solo's like the start of the For Whom The Bell Tolls (see a live one that way much better than the that wich is on the Ride the Lighting) and Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) are amaizing because he put classical stuff in his playing and use a pretty individual effect for his bass guitar, disortion and wah. His got a style.

I can't believe he doesn't have 100% of the votes. Even though the late great Clifford Lee Burton left us 25 years ago, he is still No. 1. And this is for a reason! For Whom The Bell Tolls! The greatest loss to the entire history of music! But Sir, if you are reading this, you are still alive and still going strong as ever! We love you for what you've done for us! GOD! You can take Justin Gayber, give us Cliff back!

Cliff is a very talented bass player. He showed his amazing talent in the most popular (early) Metallica songs. He lifted them to a higher level, this can also be because he loved classical music too, and brought a lot from his studies. Furthermore, he was one of the greatest virtuosoes in metal history.
Rest in peace my friend, your memory shall always be with us

No doubt Cliff is the best. Trujillo very good bass-guitarist too, but should remember, that Cliff knew a lot in music and taught James and Lars how to do the music. His bass parts in the most of songs are incredible! Or remember his manner to play. Would now be 83 to look at his game and Metallica as a whole.R.I.P. cliff. Thank you for your beautiful music m/

I have no words... Cliff was the best. The best style, the best man.. but there is nothing to do. He is gone. Without it, Metallica is another band, like many others.. nothing special. This is it. Now, please, listen with me "Orion" from the album Master of Puppets. You can search for an enhanced bass version. And toast. In loving memory of CLIFFORD LEE BURTON. RIP!

He's just the best. No one plays the bass like he does. No other player even comes close to the style he plays. Just vote for him, the other players don't deserve it as much as he does. I'm a muse, green day and a7x fan. But seriously, don't vote because you like the band, vote for how well they play, and cliff just plays the best. No question there

Cliff Burton is the greatest bassist of all time and I'm counting Gene Simmons and Geezer Butler here so this is not a light comment he is my influence as an up and coming bass player and will continue to be even if I don't make it he will always be the best to me and any fool who thinks he's not can look him up on youtube any videos showing him will be more than enough proof

We are in 2013 and No one proove that they can play like or better than Cliff. He's a blend of John Entwistle, Geezer Butler, Geddy Lee & Jimi Hendrix.
I'm playing bass almost for 18 years and I can't tell you that unique way how Cliff play is the biggest chalenge. The 9 under are less chalenging...

Look, he was a very talented player. But best EVER? Behind guys like Victor Wooten, Flea, Claypool, Geddy Lee, and the list goes on and on and on and on and on? Those guys revolutionized bass playing and could play circles around Burton. He wasn't even the best bassist to play in Metallica, for Christ's sake.

Ever since Metallica Lost him in the bus accident, -they would not have changed their style, ^^ gotten WORSE! -(Then Jason leaves ^^ now they suck! -SAD TO SAY! )-Why can't band-members stay with their bands? -they always join other bands ^^ ruin/change their style! -Cliff is a true "god" as of bassist-RIP

Cliff DOES NOT play with a pick, only his fingers, and that's very impressive considering he was in a thrash metal band like Metallica. Fingerstyle is the way to do it. Cliff is the best ever. Flea is good, but Cliff knew way more about music and the different techniques in it. Cliff deserves to be number one on this list.