Mike Overton, who played with late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton in the band Trauma, has spoken about Burton’s decision to leave and join Metallica. Overton shared his thoughts in an interview with Louder Sound.
Overton was Burton’s bandmate during Burton’s early professional years, before the bassist went on to become a key member of Metallica. He was asked to reflect on Burton’s talent and his feelings about Burton’s departure from Trauma.
“We actually battled a little bit in the beginning because he was playing way too much stuff, and I was just confused,” Overton said. “Cliff was all over the place, but it fit. I really had to learn a little bit in those few months we were playing and practicing.”
Overton explained that the other members of Trauma were moving in a different musical direction. “The other guys in Trauma were getting more into the lighter stuff, so I wasn’t upset,” he continued. “In fact, the first show Metallica did with Cliff, he put me on the guest list, and I’m sitting there going, ‘Oh my gosh.’ I was blown away with the raw power.”
Despite losing his stage partner, Overton had no regrets about Burton’s choice. “I missed my stage buddy but I think it’s clear he made the right decision,” he said.
Overton’s comments were made as part of a broader look back at Burton’s extraordinary ability as a musician and the impact he had on those who worked with him.
Trauma was formed in 1980 by Overton and George Lady and became known throughout the California Bay Area for performances at legendary venues. The band released one single, “Such A Shame,” on Metal Massacre 2 by Metal Blade Records in 1982, with Burton on bass.
In 1982, Trauma traveled to Los Angeles to perform at the Whisky a Go Go. James Hetfield heard what he thought was an amazing guitar solo but later learned it was actually Burton’s bass solo “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth.” Metallica asked Burton to join the band. Burton agreed because he felt Trauma was “starting to get a little commercial.” He became known for his “lead bass” approach, in which the bass played a melodic and soloist role in addition to holding down the harmonic and rhythmic foundation of the band.
Burton performed on Metallica’s first three studio albums: Kill ‘Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), and Master of Puppets (1986). The band achieved worldwide breakthrough with Master of Puppets, which is often cited as both the band’s best work and one of the best metal albums of all time. Burton also received a posthumous writing credit for the song “To Live Is to Die” from the band’s fourth studio album, And Justice for All.
Burton died in a bus accident on September 27, 1986, in Kronoberg County, a rural area of southern Sweden, while the band was touring in support of Master of Puppets. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Metallica on April 4, 2009.
