10 Rock Bands That Survived The Deaths Of Key Members
2. Metallica - Cliff Burton
Thrash legends Metallica were on the cusp of eclipsing the old guard of hard rock with their cutting-edge version of speed metal. As the band toured behind albums like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, they were truly giving headliners like Ozzy Osbourne a run for their money every time they took the stage. Suddenly, everything changed on a bus ride through Sweden.
After settling on sleeping arrangements, the band retreated to their bunks before the bus started to skid across the road. After losing control, the bus flipped over several times, jettisoning bassist Cliff Burton from his bunk, killing him instantly. Devastated, the band canceled the rest of their Damage Inc. tour and flew home to attend the funeral and audition new bassists.
Upon careful consideration, a young Metallica fan named Jason Newsted came to the audition and wowed the band with his non-stop energy and reverence for the band's earlier work. When the band went into the studio, they kept up their stellar track record with And Justice for All, which eventually led to the band's mainstream breakthrough on their self-titled release. Even if the band has moved away from their roots, the spirit of Cliff Burton will always be alive and well in every Metallica track.