To Live Is To Die [Revised Third Edition]: The Life & Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton | Joel McIver

To Live Is To Die: The Life & Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton

by Joel McIver

While Metallica is now known for their masterful musicianship, their early career was marked by a stunning evolution from garage thrash to sophisticated, progressive metal. This creative shift was largely driven by their bass player, Cliff Burton, an extraordinary talent who pushed the band to new heights with his phenomenal skills and unique songwriting approach across their first three legendary albums, including the undisputed masterpiece, Master Of Puppets.

Cliff's life was short but profoundly influential. His shocking and sudden death at the age of 24 in a tour bus crash left a permanent mark on the band. Although Metallica would go on to achieve immense global success, they themselves admit they never again pushed the creative boundaries as radically as they had during the first four years of their career.

The cult surrounding Burton's legacy continues to grow, and so too does the list of bassists who acknowledge his influence. Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All, this Revised Third Edition of To Live Is To Die adds a brand-new chapter that examines Burton's enduring influence from a fresh perspective. It includes commentary from current Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and even Aquaman star Jason Momoa, alongside an eyewitness account of the opening of the Cliff Burton Museum in Sweden. The book also features a brand-new preface by Testament bass master Steve Di Giorgio, who shares his personal memories of Burton.

About the Author

Joel McIver is a prolific author of 35 books on music. A highly respected writer in the rock and metal community, he has authored biographies of leading figures and co-written the memoirs of a number of prominent musicians from bands such as Megadeth, Deep Purple, Soulfly, the Spiders From Mars, and the Sex Pistols. He is also a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers including Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, the Guardian, and the Daily Telegraph.