Cliff Burton was an American musician best known as the bassist for the heavy metal band Metallica. Born on February 10, 1962, in Castro Valley, California, he joined the band in 1982 and contributed to their early success with his innovative playing style and songwriting. Burton's work on albums like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets helped shape the sound of thrash metal. Tragically, he died in a bus accident in Sweden on September 27, 1986, while on tour with Metallica, leaving a lasting legacy in the music world.