On February 10, 2026, the legacy of the late METALLICA bassist Cliff Burton will be honored in a special way, as this date marks what would have been his 64th birthday. The festivities, known as "Cliff Burton Day," will take place at the historic Chabot Theater in Castro Valley, California, the hometown of Cliff.
You’re invited to join the celebration on Tuesday, February 10, at 7 p.m. PST, where you can listen to heartfelt stories shared by members of the road crew from METALLICA's iconic "Damage Inc." tour, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Among those sharing their memories are Eddie Kercher, Big Mick, Bobby Schneider, John Marshall, Howard Ungerleider, Andy Battye, and Aiden Mullen, alongside Mike Bordin and Bryan Kehoe. The event will be hosted by Baby Huey and will feature live performances from Humma Kavula, Cataclysmic, Harald Oimoen, and more—this is a birthday celebration you definitely won’t want to miss!
Tickets for this heartwarming event can be purchased at www.thechabot.com. If you can’t make it in person, worry not! You can still be part of the commemoration through a live stream starting at 7 p.m. PST on www.youtube.com/gomezgrip.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase commemorative t-shirts and posters, with all proceeds going directly to the Cliff Burton Music Scholarship Fund, which aims to support young musicians in pursuing their dreams.
This year marks the ninth annual Cliff Burton Day, an occasion that has been officially recognized by both Castro Valley and the larger Alameda County community.
Cliff Burton's journey with METALLICA began in 1982 when he was invited to join the band after they witnessed his extraordinary talent while he was performing with his previous group, TRAUMA. Initially, Burton hesitated to relocate to Los Angeles, where METALLICA was based, leading the band to move to the San Francisco area to accommodate him.
As a pivotal member of METALLICA, Burton contributed significantly to the band's first three studio albums—"Kill 'Em All," "Ride The Lightning," and "Master Of Puppets." He co-wrote several quintessential tracks, including "Ride The Lightning," "For Whom The Bell Tolls," "Fade To Black," "Creeping Death," and the title track "Master Of Puppets."
After Burton's untimely passing in a tragic bus accident during a tour in 1986, the band welcomed Jason Newsted as his first replacement, who remained with METALLICA until 2001. Robert Trujillo later joined the band in 2003 and continues to be a vital part of their lineup today.
February 10, 2018, was declared "Cliff Burton Day" by the supervisors of Alameda County, celebrating what would have been his 56th birthday had he lived. The incredible story of Cliff's life and contributions to music is documented in the book "To Live Is To Die: The Life And Death Of Metallica's Cliff Burton," authored by Joel McIver and published globally by Jawbone Press in 2009, featuring a foreword by Kirk Hammett, the guitarist of METALLICA.
Don't forget, our exclusive 2026 Cliff Burton Day t-shirt is available for pre-order until February 6th—get yours now (link in bio)!
Posted by the Cliff Burton Family on January 23, 2026.
