METAL ARCHIVIST & OLD SCHOOL METAL HEAD … OBSESSED WITH HEAVY * THRASH * DEATH * BLACK * DOOM * HARD ROCK *
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
CLIFF'S FIRST CONCERT WITH METALLICA (MARCH 5, 1983)
On March 5th 1983 Cliff's first concert with Metallica took place at The Stone, San Francisco, California. Guests were Lääz Rockit and Exodus (featuring guitarist Kirk Hammett).
Cliff joined the band in December 1982 and replaced bassist Ron McGovney. This is also one of Cliff Burton's few appearances on stage with guitarist Dave Mustaine, who would be fired from the band about a month later.
The show took place shortly after the band moved to San Francisco. As you may know, Cliff first met James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich when he performed at the Whiskey A-Go-Go club with his band. He played the bass solo that would later become the instrumental piece "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)". James and Lars were stunned by Cliff's playing. They invited him to join their band immediately. Cliff agreed but on one condition. that the band move from Los Angeles to San Francisco, his hometown. The band agreed and this is what gave birth to this historic performance at the "Stone" Club.
On that historic evening, the band played 12 songs, most of which will eventually be included on the debut album "Kill 'Em All", except for "Hit the Lights". The opening song, "The Mechanix", was reworked as soon as Kirk Hammett joined the band, and the name was changed to "The Four Horsemen". Dave Mustaine would keep the song close to the version played that evening and a few years later it would be included on Megadeth's debut album "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!”. / A rework of the FaceOff Rockshows original text.
"Then it was time … Metallica, those Supreme Metal Gods, those Purveyors of Raging Sonic Decapitation, those Rabid Vodka-Powered Maniacs, blew our faces off as they stormed onstage through a flurry of smoke and blinding light and got things really banging with “Hit the Lights” and it was time to DIE!!! The moment many had been waiting for soon arrived. Bassist Cliff Burton’s solo spot!!! Cliff built his solo from a haunting classical guitar-sounding ballad up to a crescendo of some of the fastest, most apocalyptic bass raging ever performed! Throughout his symphony, Cliff (a.k.a. God!) utilized his wah pedal to attain sounds that most would believe impossible; you could swear he was playing lead guitar, not bass. Step aside Steve Harris, Bill Sheehan and Joey DeMaio!” / Brian Lew (Metal Mania fanzine). / Above text courtesy of Mutilator fanzine.
