Author Topic: To Live is to Die: The Life of Metallica's Cliff Burton(biography!!!!) (Read 218 times)

tmoney61092 · « **on:** September 05, 2009, 06:46:47 PM »

so i was at the bookstore today and was looking for some good biographies/autobiographies and out of the corner of my eye, i saw Cliff Burton, natural reaction was to grab it and start reading right away, which i wasn't able to do, i've only read the first chapter and from the looks of it, it's going to be pretty awesome. i thought i would throw this info out here since i know there are a lot of Metallica fans on here. it came out pretty recently since there are a lot of interviews from this year (2009)so it is packed full of stuff. i hope everyone goes out and buys this book

~Taylor Watterson

eligilam · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2009, 07:29:39 AM »

Thanks for the heads up...I'm gonna get it. I spent many a night in my teens watching my Cliff 'Em All VHS tape (especially the section titled Cliff's Second Gig) and dreaming of the day I could get either a Rickenbacker, a Spoiler, or a sweet Aria Pro II Black 'N Gold.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2009, 07:52:15 AM »

If he ever talked about it, throw here some excerpts about why he choosed Alembics, please...

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2009, 01:30:02 PM »

i got the Cliff 'em All DVD for Christmas last year and have worn it out, i love watching it with all the solos and kicka** songs. i'll tell everyone if he ever mentions his Alembics in it.

~Taylor Watterson

robertodiazj · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2009, 08:18:36 AM »

Hello
He choose Alembic because he was a fan of Stanley Clarke, I don?t remember the chapter where they mention it, but it is there.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2009, 07:13:21 PM »

that's in the first chapter but he didn't say that's why he used Alembic, he just mentioned him as an influence

~Taylor Watterson

elwoodblue · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2009, 11:49:29 PM »

...here's a Black and Gold
...priced a little high tho'

andbassforall · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2009, 12:54:22 AM »

I got the book a few months ago. Though I wasn't to hip on the author's writing, there was a lot of good quotes from folks. I learned a lot and I thought I already knew quite a bit. Would recommend for sure.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2009, 05:34:32 AM »

Despite Cliff Burton's widespread influence in so many bassists, it seems we could say there are 3 main reasons to a bass man get inspired by the idea of picking an Alembic for the first time:

Stanley Clarke
John Entwhistle
Greatfull Dead

Being Stanley's admirer must be enough to get caught by the crave for an Alembic... It was to me, at least.

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2009, 05:45:11 AM »

Ok, I'm not being fair to guys like Cliff, John Paul Jones and Greg Lake... But may be even them heard some of those guys before get addicted. In fact the first time I saw one Series was a beautifull 8 string in a JPJ pic.

Just seeing Stan close in a Show changed my life. He went in the middle of the crowd and soloed two rows before me with all that confidence and authority. Blew my mind... Nice to know Cliff's, too.

briant · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2009, 05:33:31 PM »

If he ever talked about it, throw here some excerpts about why he choosed Alembics, please...

I'm guessing because he liked how they sounded and played. Call me crazy but those are my two main reasons for purchasing any instrument. Because someone else plays one is nowhere on my list.

I'll have to check out the book on Cliff. Thanks for the heads up.

tmoney61092 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2009, 05:40:24 PM »

i also just remembered something i read in an interview once, he said that he had to have his Ric worked on so he bought a Spoiler just because, of course this didn't last long because some sleeze bag stole it. also worth noting, i read that he had a Seymore Duncan high output Strat pickup installed under the bridge of his Ric to give it more treble, pretty crazy stuff.

~Taylor Watterson

mario_farufyno · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2009, 05:32:53 AM »

That's interesting, Taylor...

Don't get me wrong, Briant. We all certainly choose a Bass by its sound (specially the expensive ones), but you must hear it first somewhere. I've heard Alembic for the first time at Stanley Clarke's records as I imagine to happen to other guys (may be even Cliff).

May be you've heard them in a Level 42 record or on a Metallica one - or may be you've simply got grabed by its look when you've got into a shop and never knew anyone who played it. But you must have something to grab you first or to incite you to think I must try one of these some day... I've just assumed most people heard it first in someone's record that they liked (so as I presumed hearing that 3 masters's records was the first time most people listened to an Alembic ever).

In Brazil we don't have much chances to try Alembics around. In fact it is very dificult to find one being sold anywhere here and any Bass can easily cost 3 or 4 times more here than in US (in 25 years playing I've just had the chance to be face-to-face to 6 Alembics until now, including mine and the ones I saw in live shows). So I took years hearing it before having the chance to play or buy one.

Everybody has a starting point. If I ever thought to pursue a Hofner, it was from listening to Beatles LPs. As the hitch to try one Rickenbaker was from hearing to lasts Beatle's albuns and to Chris Squire tone (some may say their was related to Lemmy or Geddy Lee) and Jazz Bass's must have came from dozens of records, especialy the Jaco's ones. Then you make your choices and trys, later... Today I'd rather to play an Alembic more than Fenders or Rics, but this desire changed and evolved over the years.

I agree with you when you say no one should buy an Instrument just based on who endorse it. But I was saying the first idea of having any bass usually came from hearing it in someone's hand who catches you long time before you really buy it. It is a teen admirer thing, I confess. But that intention must came from somewhere... To me was from hear it in School Days anthem.

(Message edited by Mario Farufyno on September 09, 2009)

robertodiazj · « **Reply #13 on:** September 09, 2009, 07:11:58 AM »

I re-read the page I was talking about earlier, it is pretty vague it just says that Cliff Burton tried Alembics as his hero Stanley Clarke, nothing more, it is in chapter 10, page 159. So there is nothing clear as why he chosed an Alembic Spoiler. The other mention of the Alembic is in the last chapter where his girlfriend talks about how it was stolen.

And here is a link to the transcription of the interview Taylor is talking about:
http://www.artistwd.com/joyzine/music/burton/burton.php

They quote little bits of this interview in various parts in the book. I think it was the last interview he gave.

(Message edited by robertodiazj on September 09, 2009)

(Message edited by robertodiazj on September 09, 2009)

bigredbass · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2009, 11:04:19 PM »

I will say this: As part of the great wave of Alembic-influenced Japanes basses from the 80's, the recently re-introduced Aria SB's are my-T-fine axes. A tad heavy or a bit too round-neck-profiled for some, still a very nice axe. A nice member of the Yamaha BB / Ibanez Musician / Daion XX / Aria SB club.

And of course, the 'Designed by H. Noble' decal on the originals refers to Nobiyashi-san, who went on to found Atlansia. Single string bass for you, gaigin?