Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo recently shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story about the band’s iconic instrumental track “Orion.” He revealed details about how Cliff Burton ended up playing what was originally intended to be Kirk Hammett’s guitar solo. The revelation came during an interview on The Metallica Report podcast.
Trujillo explained how the legendary bass solo in “Orion” came to be. He described the circumstances that led to Burton taking over the part.
“He was originally supposed to play the solo there [in ‘Orion’], Kirk was,” Trujillo said. “And he was away from the studio, came back the next day and Cliff had laid the track. He played the solo there and there was no solo for Kirk.”
The bassist expressed his admiration for Burton’s bold move in the studio.
“Not that Kirk doesn’t get enough solos, but Cliff took his solo, which I think is just so cool,” he continued.
Trujillo also reflected on the emotional impact of the song and its ability to unite both the band and their audience.
“[‘Orion’] is a song that automatically brings us together and it has to do with the emotion and the personality of the song,” he said. “It’s so infectious that you have to be together and you also have to be together with the fans.”
This revelation adds another layer to the rich history of one of Metallica’s most celebrated compositions. It highlights the creative dynamics that shaped the band’s legendary sound.
Wikipedia reported that “Orion” was written primarily by bassist Cliff Burton and named after the constellation due to its “spacey sounding” bridge. The eight-and-a-half-minute instrumental track became one of the standout pieces from Metallica’s 1986 album “Master of Puppets.” It showcased Burton’s innovative approach to bass playing in heavy metal.
Burton’s influence on the track extended beyond just the solo that Trujillo discussed. Loudwire noted that Burton had originally intended to play all solos on bass but gave some to the guitarists. This makes his decision to claim Hammett’s solo even more significant in the context of the song’s development.
The story also reflects the deep musical bond between Burton and his bandmates. Guitar World observed that Burton’s playing style may have been an offbeat fit for the cutting-edge thrash of Metallica, but it worked perfectly. It set the musical bar for the entire band.
Burton’s tragic death in a bus crash in Sweden on September 27, 1986, just months after “Master of Puppets” was released, makes these behind-the-scenes stories even more poignant. Metallica Wiki documented that at Burton’s memorial ceremony, the instrumental “Orion” was played as a tribute. Burton himself never had the chance to perform the song live with the band.
