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When I was a young teen, very young in fact (like 13), I had a close friend who was a metal-head just like myself. However, where as I was one to gravitate towards bands such as Guns N' Roses, Rush, and other not as heavy fare, my buddy was a die-hard Metallica fan. Needless to say, we ribbed each other mercilessly for our differences in tastes. Of course there was a mutual respect there. I, for example, loved Master of Puppets. He loved Power Windows, by Rush. So, good natured teasing was par for the course. Truthfully, at the time, I had not developed a full appreciation for the Metallica guys. That would come in time.
My friend is now a world-renowned studio engineer and mixing specialist. Fucker's won a grammy for fuck sake. Me? Well, I'm just a lowly blogger. Our path's took decidedly different turns. Musically, he was far more advanced than I.
So, I pick up
To Live Is To Die. As my many dozens of readers know, I am a huge fan of rock biographies. This one, however, was bound to take me back to an earlier time in my life when me and my buddy were listening to way different music.
This book centers on the life of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Now, I know enough about the band to know that diehard fans split the group into two eras: Cliff-era and after Cliff-era. Early fans are all about the Cliff albums:
Kill 'em All,
Ride the Lightning, and
Master of Puppets. Truthfully, aside from
KEA, I enjoy this era, too.
The figure of Cliff Burton is fairly well-developed in
To Live Is To Die. I actually felt like I knew the guy a little bit after reading the book. Of course it starts off with young Cliff and his family. But, thankfully, the book doesn't delve too deeply into early childhood. Where I know this is important, it usually bores the fuck out of me in these music biopics. This one really kicks into his music career fairly quickly. Thanks, Joel.
Cliff Burton was many things and these are plainly stated by folks interviewed for the book. Cliff was musically gifted, loved his bass and effects, had a solid foundation in music theory and was steadfast in his ways. The dude wore bell-bottoms in the thrash metal realm for fuck sake! But, what I found fascinating were the personal details about the bassist. He wasn't about money or fame and hated being called a rock star. Cliff was humble, intelligent, and incredibly kind to everyone. If he were alive today, I am sure he would be the most approachable member of the group. No doubt.
To Live Is To Die delves deeply into the making of the first three albums and Cliff's role in the production of each. The other members of Metallica looked up to Cliff. Not just because he was a bass virtuoso but because he had a great sense of what was right and wrong and what was just inherently cool. Cliff never would have put up with the garbage that became
Load and
Re-Load, for example. He was more important to that band than anyone can fathom and this book emphasizes that point.
To this day I am not a huge Metallica fan. Lars Ulrich gets on my nerves whenever I see him on the television. Maybe if we met in person it would be completely different. But, I do admire the guy's drive and determination. I personally think that James Hetfield is one of the most gifted rhythm guitar players of all time. His precision is unparalelled. Kirk seems like an easy going dude as well as super talented. But, after the black album I just lost interest in the band. Maybe it's because I am no longer the angry young man I once was...people grow up, right?
One caveat about this book: the author goes a little far in Cliff's performances on the three Cliff albums. It's like, "Check out his fill at 0:34 of
Call of Kthulu"...which he does a whole lot. It got annoying after a while. I wasn't listening to
Ride the Lightning while reading the book, dude!
Overall, this was a good rock book and gave much insight into a figure in metal that is often overlooked or forgotten. Cliff Burton was good and made those first three Metallica records thrash metal classics. But, it cannot be overlooked how genuine and forthright Cliff was as a person. I was a little saddened when I finished. I knew the ending just like I did when I read the book on Dimebag Darrell but it still didn't deaden the effect.
I did go back and listen to
Master of Puppets again after reading the book. Fuck, that thing is STILL a classic.
Blame Korn all you want for that nu-metal eruption that happened early in the 2000's. It's not Korn's fault that we had to deal with Limp Bizkit and their kind. No, if you want to place blame…well, blame Rage Against the Machine. It's their fault.
