What happened to Cliff Burton? Metallica trends online as fans remember late band member

Metallica bassist Cliff Burton died in a bus accident on September 27, 1986, in Sweden. The band was on tour at the time when the bus skidded on black ice and went off the road.

The band were travelling between the tour dates in Sweden and Burton and guitarist Kirk Hammett decided to draw cards to decide who would get to choose a bunk. Burton drew the Ace of Spades and chose the bunk Hammett had been occupying. Hammett while recalling the incident in VH1's Behind the Music remmebered saying,

"I said fine, take my bunk. I'll sleep up front; it's probably better anyway."

On the early morning of September 27, 1986, the band members were abruptly woken up when the bus began to move from side to side. The driver while speaking to the authorities later mentioned that he had lost control of the bus after hitting a patch of black ice and that the bus left the road and flipped over on its side.

When the bus flipped, it caused Burton to be thrown out of the window. The bus came down and landed on the 24-year old musician. The musician died at the scene.

Fans on twitter are remembering Cliff Burton, with the band currently trending amid the Superbowl announcement. One fan (@Photomusicrock) showed his appreciation for the late bassist saying,

"Metallica with Cliff Burton on bass was a different vibe!"

Another fan (@GamblersTouch) expressed that Cliff Burton will always be "a part of me"

"Cliff Burton - legends never die! a master i will always remember - always a part of me #Metallica"

"The halftime show not being Metallica is a huge disappointment" - Fans take to twitter to express their dismay

Remembering the death anniversary of Cliff Burton, fans took to social media to remember the musician. Superbowl also announced their Halftime show performer for the 2026 Superbowl, which will be Bad Bunny, and fans spoke up that they'd rather listen to Metallica instead.

A user (@klinger2069) said that the band not performing for Halftime is a "huge disappointment"

Jason Klingensmith

@klinger2069

The halftime show not being Metallica is a huge disappointment

Another user (@CACoreyU) claimed that it was "injustice" to not give the band a halftime show,

"Damn. We get another Superbowl in the Bay Area, probably the last for a while and the NFL and Apple Music still couldn't give Metallica the halftime show."

Another user (@markleishear) wondered why NFL and the show's producers would pick Bad Bunny over the band when the show is scheduled at the band's hometown,

"Really? They pick Bad Bunny to play in San Fran for the Super Bowl? @Metallica's home town… where they’ve played countless shows… have immense “local” support. And you pick Bad Bunny. Just damn ridiculous."

Another user (@DallasSp0rtsFan) urged the NFL and the producers to pick the band instead,

Trending

Dakkas

@DallasSp0rtsFan

Metallica is the only acceptable answer to being this year's halftime show.

The band is yet to react to fan's reactions over the recent Halftime show pick.

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