Metallica are paying tribute to their legendary late bassist Cliff Burton with a newly launched exhibit on the band’s online museum.
“Orion: A Tribute to Cliff Burton” is now available to view via the Metallica Black Box museum on the band’s official website for members of the metal act’s Fifth Member fan club (it’s free to sign up).
Metallica stated the following of “Orion: A Tribute to Cliff Burton” via an announcement posted Tuesday (July 23rd) on Metallica.com:
“Introducing ‘Orion: A Tribute to Cliff Burton,’ honoring the life and legacy of the man and the musician. Though Cliff’s time with Metallica was brief, his impact and influence remain monumental through his music, our memories, and stories. To celebrate our brother, we’ve dipped into our vault to share pieces of him that we’ve hung onto all these years. And because the ‘Metallica Cliff’ is just one side of him, we’ve recruited his friends, peers, and fans to join us in telling his story. We’d like to extend a massive thank you to the Burton family for sharing memories that go as far back as Cliff’s childhood. The first of four releases in this exhibit, today’s drop contains everything from old photos and personal letters to new exclusive video interviews. So dig in and take your time with this content — there will be more where that came from! Come back on August 13 to check out the next release.”
Burton was a member of Metallica from 1982 until his tragic death at the young age of 24 in a bus accident in September 1986. He appeared on the band’s iconic first three albums: Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, and Master of Puppets. In a retrospective titled “The Legend of Metallica’s Cliff Burton Lives On,” Heavy Consequence chronicled his life and career, as well as his lasting influence.
A couple years ago, a brick-and-mortar Cliff Burton museum opened in Ljungby, Sweden, near the site of the aforementioned bus accident that took his life.
Meanwhile, Metallica’s ongoing “M72 World Tour” kicks off a new North American leg on August 2nd and 4th in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Tickets to their upcoming shows are available here.
Orion: A Tribute to Cliff Burton, via Metallica.com