Ray Burton, the father of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton, has died. He was 94.
Burton’s passing was confirmed by daughter, Connie, in a Facebook post.
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During the promotion of their 2016 book Metallica: Back to the Front, the video below was added to the Metallica YouTube page, and each member of Metallica spoke fondly about Ray Burton. Notable among the band’s comments was James Hetfield who said, “When I grow up, I want to be Ray Burton. He is so inspiring. His energy, his love of life, it’s very attractive to me, because I’m the other side of the battery most of the time. But he brings a smile to my face. I just look at him and I start smiling.”
In 2017, Burton said in an interview with the podcast Alphabetallica the family has quietly been donating his son’s Metallica royalties to scholarships for music students at Castro Valley High School in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Cliff Burton attended. Burton said, “The kids who won it, they invariably write and thank me for. And I think Cliff probably would have done that with his money, because he was not against education by any means. He liked it very much.”
Burton also accepted his son’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award on his behalf in 2009.
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Jason Newsted (L) and Robert Trujillo of Metallica perform onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L-R) Musicians James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett of Metallica attend the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Members of Metallica huddle onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, Jason Newsted, James Hetfield and Robert Trujillo of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
SharedCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Jason Newsted, James Hetfield,a and Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Jason Newsted, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, James Hetfield and Robert Trujiof of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Jason Newsted, James Hetfield, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton,and Robert Trujillo of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Lars Ulrich (R) of Metallica speaks as Kirk Hammett (L) and Jason Newsted listen onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) James Hetfield speaks as Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted, Kirk Hammett, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, Robert Trujillo of Metallica watch onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Jason Newsted (L) and Robert Trujillo of Metallica perform onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich of Metallica pose in the press room during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich of Metallica pose in the press room during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich of Metallica pose in the press room during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich of Metallica pose in the press room during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Jason Newsted, Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich of Metallica pose in the press room during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L-R) Kirk Hammett, Flea, Robert Trujillo, Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted, James Hetfield, and Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Robert Trujillo, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted Robert Trujillo of Metallica hug onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L to R) Robert Trujillo, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted Robert Trujillo of Metallica perform onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich hug as Jason Newsted, Kirk Hammett, Robert Trujillo, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, of Metallica and Flea watch onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (R to L) James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich hug as Jason Newsted, Kirk Hammett Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, Robert Trujillo of Metallica watch onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: James Hetfield (R) and Lars Ulrich of Metallica perform onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: (L-R) Robert Trujillo, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Jason Newsted and Lars Ulrich of Metallica stand onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield amd Robert Trujillo of Metallica perform onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: James Hetfield of Metallica performs onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GALLERY: Metallica’s Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ShareCLEVELAND - APRIL 04: James Hetfield (R) speaks as Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted, Kirk Hammett, Ray Burton, father of deceased Cliff Burton, Robert Trujillo of Metallica and Flea listen onstage at the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)