Cliff 'Em All

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Cliff 'Em All
Directed by Jea Pellerin
Doug Freel
Produced by Curt Marvis
Jeff Richter
Starring Metallica
Distributed by Elektra Entertainment
Release date(s) 1987
Running time 90 min.
Language English

Cliff 'Em All is a concert video released as a tribute to Metallica's late bassist Cliff Burton. Burton was killed in a tour bus accident on September 27, 1986, near Ljungby, Sweden during the European leg of their Master of Puppets tour. The homevideo contains also a performance with Dave Mustaine in March 19, 1983, shortly before his bounce for heavy drugs and alcohol abuse.

The video is a retrospective on the 3½ years that Cliff Burton was in Metallica, presented as a collection of bootleg footage shot by fans, some professional filming and TV shots that were never used and some of his best bass solos, personal photos and live concerts. Photos and narrations by the band (Ulrich, Hetfield and Hammett drinking beer) are placed between songs which focus on Burton before fading into a title card of a performance. The video ends with the melodic interlude of "Orion" as pictures of Burton are shown. Ironically, the credits end before his bass solo.

With this video, the band tries to show the unique personality and style he had. While ostensibly the film focuses on Burton, it also has given fans a rare glimpse of Metallica's less-documented early career. This contrasts sharply with the 'Metallica business' represented in the feature film Some Kind of Monster.

Footage on this release includes:

Detroit, April 4, 1986 - "supporting Ozzy"
Shot from the left of the stage. VG with closeups.

Long Island, April 28, 1986 - "still drunk on Ozzy tour"
Shot from ground level above heads, VG with closeups

The Stone, San Francisco, March 19, 1983 - "Cliff's second gig"
Shot just above ground level, VG with closeups

Germany, September 14, 1985 - "Metal Hammer Fest headlining with Venom, Nazareth, beer!
Professionally shot video

Denmark, July 6, 1986 - "Roskilde Festival with Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello and Big Country"
Shot from ground level, with closeups

Oakland, August 31, 1985 - "Day on the Green"

Chicago, August 12, 1983 - "Supporting Raven on the 'Kill Em All For One' tour"

  • Cliff Burton, Lou Martin (Jim Martin's brother) and Dave Donato in a classic 'stoner' moment where they all smoke pot.[1]

Cliff 'Em All is available on DVD and VHS.