Cliff Burton -Metallica Crash Site 

I had no idea the site was marked, let alone that the government went through the trouble of making it so accessible. Thank you for this. Rest in peace, Cliff.

Just outside of my town, Ljungby. Loved your show in Älmhult! The road you are on was the major roadway up until the 90’s

Thank you for this, Otis. At the time of his death, I was giving guitar lessons to his cousin and he was crushed, not only for his personal loss, but Cliff's success was a point of great family pride.

Otis, I love your appreciation for true musicianship and the pickers and singers that are the soundtrack to our lives. RIP Cliff Burton.

I saw Metallica with Cliff on May 6, 1986 in New Orleans. They opened up for Ozzy. One and only time I saw Cliff. He was amazing. So glad I got to see him. Thanks for sharing this special place with all the Metallica fans. Much appreciated!

Truly a shame about Cliff.. My brother in law from my first marriage was hanging out in the Berkeley music scene with Metallica and the Misfits at the time… and he was an insane bassist..had the “look”… He was actually scheduled to audition for Cliff’s spot for the rest of the tour… but he choked and backed out.. Now I hear he’s a real estate attorney in San Jose..😩… Life is funny..

I was introduced to Metallica by their first manager, Jon Zazula. Jon ran a small local record shop, and one day he was heavily pushing a demo tape by a California band he was very high on. I was skeptical, but I caved, and paid my $5 for the No Life Til Leather demo tape. Jon brought the band out to NJ shortly after that, and they did a few in-store appearances, where I got to talk to Cliff briefly, about our shared love of early BOC and the Misfits. I saw them for the first time two weeks after Kill Em All was released. Even though they were from California, the NJ headbangers adopted Metallica as one of their own, and they often seemed like a local band to us.

Thanks for stopping off and showing us the spot. I hadn’t seen that. But yeah I saw Metallica twice with Cliff. The show you saw was out here in upstate NY in Jan 85. Great show! The other time was Master Of Puppets April 86 opening for Ozzy when they were just breaking big. Also great. The band was here a couple days early and were seen in a club right near my apartment but I didn’t know that or would have gone met them. That bus accident was one you recall where you were when you heard the news because it was so shocking as a fan. Strange and sad about the smaller highway, didn’t know that either.

Still fire up Orion on the regular. One of the best bass tracks ever, for my money. RIP Cliff.

Thanks for this Otis...hearing of his passing back in 86 was soul-crushing and left a huge hole in the heart of the Bay Area Thrash scene 🙏🤟

I met Cliff and he gave me his Bass pick with his name on it in the 80's when the Ozzy Motley Crue Metallica tour played Mid South Colusem in Memphis. We waited and followed the busses to a Race cart track and met everyone as they went to the race carts. second time meeting Ozzy and first time meeting all of Motley Crew. All.the bands were really cool and down to earth. I had my Cliff Burton pick until my storage space was auctioned off with my rock and roll scrap book. But I remember it all. And I don't know why they were not on that road vuy what can we say about fate. also, Otis I just starting watching you channel and I really love it. I first started watching when you did the Tribute to a true lady of pure Soul, Ms. Christine Mcvie. I met Christine also in Memphis on her solo tour in the 80's at the Peabody Hotel. Very Lovely and Missed .😎😎😎🙏🙏 Be Safe and Blessed on the Road.

Otis Gibbs+The road the bus took mot likely was the only road at the time. The expressway to your right in the video was most likely built after Cliff's passing. Thanks for the video, like others, I didn't know the memorial stone or table and stools were there. I believe I've heard your name before but I'm not familiar with your music but being a lifelong student of music , I appreciate and respect musicians who can step out of their own way and realize the dedication, significance and talent that other musicians may have, even when it's not your thing, or you just dont get it. So, with that Mr. Gibbs, you have my respect. I'll be checking out your music. Fyi, I'm a guitarist, singer, songwriter in rock, country, punk and heavy metal. Take care and safe travels!

I saw them on the ride the lightning tour here in dallas at the old Arcadia theater (that has since burned down) when I was 15. Remember when you had to find a ride to the show because you were too young to drive!😂😉🙏

Beautiful memorial! Thank you for sharing this, Otis! Unfortunately, I never got the opportunity to see Cliff live because I didn’t become a fan of Metallica, and Cliff, until shortly after he passed. What a great musician, bass player, and performer he was.

I have cousins from Greenwood who were at that same WASP/Armored Saint/Metallica show. They're in their 50s now and major metal heads back in the day. So yeah, they were there. They've talked about it for years.

At a recent Camel Rock Casino gig here, Eric Burton and the 'Animals' with the original Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine played a great show. A woman turned to me and said, "this is exciting. isn't it? It's like just High School.' She was about my age. I was 65 then. I had to laugh. Yeah, just like high school. Great memories never die do they? Thanks Otis.

I was lucky enough to see Cliff twice. Monster Of Rock Castle Donnington 85, and Edinburgh 86. I have the Master Of Puppets album fully autographed including Cliffs. A memory I will never forget. Thanks for your video.

I appreciate you giving respect to Cliff man, even though metal isn't your thing you understood how special that era of Metallica was with Cliff.

This a was a nice deviation from the usual Americana content of this channel and I say that as a guy who loves the Americana content of this channel. 😀😀😀

What a treasure to have that memory, Otis, I'm glad it's still with you, and glad you're able to pay Cliff his respects

Got to see Cliff with Metallica at the Day on the Green, in Oakland back in '85, and opening for Ozzy in '86. About 2 months before the crash.

Actually saw his second to last gig on 25th September at Skedsmohallen outside Oslo. Great gig and glad that I was able to see Cliff in full force before the tragedy

Ride the Lightning tour with 100 kids and Cliff Burton! Otis, do you remember hearing For Whom the Bell Tolls on that set? I remember when the world lost Cliff Burton shortly after the Texxas Jamb, 1986 (I was 17). Metallica was the headliner. Like you, I was not a huge fan, just not really my style but I do like many of their songs. I have committed to going to more shows this year to harvest good memories like this one. Next up: Gary Clark Jr. at a small venue in OKC... Can't wait! Love the channel!

That used to be the main road.

Thank you for your story. Love your personal account of that concert

Yes at the summit in Houston they were opening up for ozzy in 85 I worked for pace concerts. I watched their sound check I thought he was going to break his neck he was getting into it, and in the middle of the song he stormed off stage, James was laughing saying where you going?

Thanks for taking us there. What a neat memorial.

Fascinating! Be easy out there on the dusty trail, brother!

Used to listen to Metallica shows and interviews in the early 1980's on KFJC (Los Altos Hills!). Band was always in studio doing performances. Nice little park /setting. Maybe there was a problem on the highway due to weather that they decided to skirt the problem on a side road (?).

The only times I ever saw Metallica was when Cliff was with them. I was introduced to them when I was in 9th grade in Germany. I first saw them at a small venue in Mainz, Germany. Their bus was parked out front, and they ran "cattle gates" from the bus door to the front door of the venue. So we got to see them up close when they went in and out for soundcheck. Next time was at the 1985 Metal Hammer Fest at the Lorelei Amphitheater on the Rhine. That's the first time they played "Disposable Heroes", before "Master of Puppets" was even releases (You can find a video of that performance right here on RU-vid). At that show, you could go through some trees and there was a 2m fence where on the other side was a road leading to the stage. I got autographs from Cliff and Kirk. I cracked up when I saw all the picks on his memorial here because a kid at that show asked Cliff for a pick, and Cliff looked at him and said, "No picks, man" and waved the his right hand fingers to show he was a finger picker.

Very nice and tasteful respect to a great musician. Well done sir. Thanks

You’ve seen a lot Otis. Your love of music has taken you on a great trip and to some great places.

That road was the only choice back then I believe.

Rest in peace to Cliff Burton, Randy Rhoads, Chi Cheng, Lynn Strait & Dobbs, Duane Allman, Razzle, Eddie Cochran, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, Marc Bolan Ronnie Van Zant friends & crew and any other rockers who stayed true to themselves, who lost their lives in a similar devastating and sudden way.

Thank you Otis! much respect

Great Stuff Otis Thanx So Much..

This was the main road in 1986; as you can see it's a quite rural area and so the present day highway wasn't constructed until around 1995.

Otis that’s just a straight up Beautiful story ✌️😎RIP Cliff

I was into the heavier stuff back then a lot more than I am now, Ride the Lightning was a great album along the first Megadeth album. Just a thought, was the highway there at that time? Almost 40 years have past, possibly the highway was completed after the accident. Great tribute to Cliff though.

Thanks for video. Awesome story of seeing him live. That other highway could’ve been build after 1986

I only saw Cliff the once. It was at Bradford St George's Hall, England on the 11th September 1986 back when I was 16. It was my first time seeing Metallica (Anthrax supported) and back then it was so "fresh" and "new". We'd honestly not heard anything quite like it. Sure we saw and liked other bands but these guys were just faster, heavier, rawer and simply way more exciting than any other band I saw at that very same venue that year (Ozzy, Bon Jovi, Queensryche, Magnum, The Cramps, Motorhead & Maiden) and although I loved James snarling with his mane of blonde hair it was Cliff with his bell bottoms, windmilling hair and what sounded like a 747 taking off coming from that Rickenbacker that was THE coolest. Of course just over a fortnight later we got the sad news.... Seen Metallica over 25 times since over the decades and some great shows in there (a couple of not so great too!) but they were never the same without Cliff.

I saw Cliff with Metalica in 86 I went being an Ozzy fan and left being a Metalica fan.

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing and paying respect. PLAY LOUD

Apparently Kirk Hammet was supposed to sleep in that bunk that night but gave it to Cliff that night. RIP Cliff 🤘

saw Master tour with OZZY... chant for OZZy was so loud it almost drowned out Tallica's sound... was in front of Cliff ,looked like his hair was going out 5 rows with his thrashing..

The highway half a mile away wasn't built yet back then. That small road was the main highway.

the motorway wasnt there back in 1986 that was the main route il be there tuesday on route to Stockholm in my truck always stop off there

I remember years ago they stopped at the old country store in Hickox Georgia

Seen cliff and metallica opening for ozzy August 1986 Charleston Civic Center Charleston WV first concert I ever attended it was a killer show

Saw The Metallica Armoured Saint tour #The Kabuki SF spring 85...they played snippets of stuff that would later appear on Master of Puppets 🤟

Honestly I always thought the bus crash was off a hill, not just a straight quite road… very sad. RIP Cliff 🤘🏻

Otis, thank you.

Thanks for this.

Great piece, dude !

That road was the major highway in 1986

The motorway wasn't there in 1986, so that tiny road was the main road.

Rip Cliff

hey early cat gets the best treats ive never been like no 1 !!!

Thankx for this.

👍,I remember when people thought Wasp stood for white, Anglo Saxon protestant.,lol

Triumph!

Hey Otis can you see my comment I think you'd appreciate my day at the show wow I'm 54now but this shot you can't make up

I remember fun at a rock n' roll shows. Barely...

I saw him at the New Haven Connecticut date of Ozzy's Ultimate Sin tour. I was hardly 12 years old. I remember that the audience didn't quite know how to take them. Metallica were jeans and t-shirts instead of spandex and hair spray. People might hate on me but after Cliff died, I lost interest in Metallica's music. It just wasn't the same. I don't listen to much Heavy Metal but if I do - it's Cliff era Metallica.

Thanks Man

3 bands for $8...they were fun times i don't remember any shows being out of reach..

It should have been lars -CB (probably)

Man I got a fn story for you guys but before I spend a hour writing a book can yall see my comment. The craziest story and it was also wasp and armored Saint aragon ballroom Chicago rode the lightning tour

I wonder if the bus was just detoured because of road construction or something? Ya mentioned Triumph…was my first concert with Golden Earring at Market Square Arena….

does anyone remember laughtaaaaaaaar! lol

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Metallica? It’s the first 3 albums, for me, really! Maybe ' … and justice …' but that’s it!

I was at that Sherwood country club show! ❤ it was my senior year in high-school. The second time I saw Cliff was at Market Square arena when they opened for Ozzy which was their Master of puppets tour.

Perhaps the nearby highway, or that stretch of it, simply wasn't there back in 1986. Just a guess.

Very cool respectful video.

I saw Metallica with Cliff live a couple times Kalamazoo Michigan with WASP & Armored Saint. Metallica played before WASP. Then a year or so later opening for Ozzy in Fort Wayne Indiana both shows were incredible. I have a crappy copy of the Ft Wayne show on cassette My friend recorded on a Walkman. Metallica was one of the hottest metal bands ever in those days.