Metallica confirm 10th February has been proclaimed ‘Cliff Burton Day’
A fan-driven campaign to proclaim 10th February as ‘Cliff Burton Day’ in the late Metallica bassist’s birthplace of Castro Valley has been approved.
Metallica announced the good news on their social channels, writing: “IT’S OFFICIAL! The Board of Supervisors from Alameda County has just proclaimed February 10, 2018, which would have been Cliff’s 56th birthday, ‘Cliff Burton Day.’
“Thanks to all of the fans who got behind this initiative. We love that he remains so revered.”
They also shared an image of the official proclamation from the Board of Supervisors containing further details of the day, which you can check out here:
Metallica fan Robert Souza launched an online petition for Cliff Burton Day in early January, calling on Alameda County to honour Cliff on his birthday in the place where he was brought up; Castro Valley.
Souza wrote at the time: "Cliff Burton's electrifying bass playing made him one of metal music's most revered, respected and influential musicians. He honed his musical craft while living in CV and attending Castro Valley schools.
“After playing with a number of local bands, Cliff was recruited to join Metallica. It was with that band that Cliff recorded some of the most amazing and ferocious bass playing ever put on tape. On September 27, 1986, Clifford Lee Burton died in a bus accident in Kronoberg County, in southern Sweden, as the band toured in support of the Master of Puppets album.
“Cliff is a Castro Valley legend and we would like the Alameda County Board of Supervisors commemorate February 10 (Cliff's birthday) as "Cliff Burton Day" in Castro Valley.”
On Monday 22nd January, Souza formally asked the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) to back his back his effort in person.
The MAC Board voted 7-0 in favour of creating a Cliff Burton Day and the vote was forwarded to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to give it their seal of approval yesterday.