Cliff Burton is best known for his work with the Thrash Metal band Metallica. From 1982-1986 Burton's distinctive bass playing and technical musicianship set Metallica apart from many of the other acts at the time for their complex and lengthy compositions featuring both heavy and melodic segments.

Born in Castro Valley, California, Cliff Burton was introduced to music early on taking piano lessons as a child. During his teenage years, however, Cliff's musical interests turned from classical music to heavy metal. At the age of 13 Burton started playing the bass guitar. Some of his influences include British Heavy Metal bands such as Motörhead and Black Sabbath, the Canadian Progressive Rock band Rush and American Punk band The Misfits.

After Metallica's original bassist Ron McGovney left the band, James Hetfield (vocalist/rhythm guitarist) and Lars Ulrich (drummer) were at a concert when they discovered Cliff Burton who was then with the band Trauma. Hetfield and Ulrich convinced Burton to join Metallica and he was featured on the band's debut album the following year: Kill 'Em All.

Metallica's 1983 release featured ten tracks, nine of which were written prior to Cliff Burton's arrival in the band. However, the bass solo track entitled "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" has proven to be Burton's most recognizable piece. This was the piece played the night he was discovered by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich which told them he had to be in the band. The solo features Burton's signature style, relying heavily on techniques typically associated with six-string guitar such as tapping, as well as effects not normally used with bass guitar such as wah-wah and distortion.

By 1984 the follow-up to Kill Em All, Ride the Lightning is released featuring a more progressive musical style which would be perfected on later albums. Cliff Burton's presence is felt more distinctly than on the previous album. Burton's style permeates six of the 8 songs featured on the album and his knowledge of music theory would continue to influence the band's main contributor James Hetfield.

Perhaps the most notable of Burton's performances on "Ride the Lightning" final track, the instrumental "The Call of Ktulu". This song features Burton playing a "lead bass" part, akin to what might traditionally be expected to be played by a guitarist. Similarly, Burton's chromatic intro to "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is often mistaken for a guitar part.

Cliff Burton's final album with Metallica was the break-through record Master of Puppets. The 1986 release became the favourite release of many of Metallica's fans and features Cliff Burton's favourite song "Master of Puppets". Along with the album's title track Burton had a number of other writing credits for this album, notably the instrumental "Orion". Like "The Call of Ktulu", "Orion" features Burton on lead bass throughout much of the song; however, (mainly due to production quality), Burton's bass is much more prominent. This track features a bass solo by Cliff Burton between the rare solo by James and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett's second solo.

September 27, 1986, just months after the release of Master of Puppets Cliff Burton was killed in a bus accident while touring in Sweden. All other Metallica band members were present on the bus during the crash but none of them were seriously hurt. Burton was thrown through the windshield and crushed by the vehicle.

Two years passed until Metallica's next release. The 1988 release ...And Justice For All featured Cliff Burton's final writing credit. The instrumental song entitled "To Live is to Die" is dedicated to Cliff Burton and is the band's final instrumental track ending the Burton inspired tradition. The track is made up of unused riff's by the band's late bassist and has never been played live in its entirety to this date.