One of Metallica‘s most revered instrumental tracks, “Orion” from the 1986 masterpiece Master of Puppets, is defined by its soulful, melodic bass solo. However, according to current bassist Robert Trujillo, that iconic section was originally written for a six-string, not a four-string.
Appearing on the latest episode of “The Metallica Report” podcast to honor what would have been Cliff Burton‘s 64th birthday (February 10), Trujillo shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about the recording sessions. He revealed that Burton essentially hijacked a spot in the song that was designated for lead guitarist Kirk Hammett.
“He was originally supposed to play the solo there, Kirk was,” Trujillo explained during the episode (via Loudwire). “And he was away from the studio, came back the next day and Cliff had laid the track. He played the solo there and there was no solo for Kirk.”
According to Trujillo, it was Hammett himself who eventually explained how the switch occurred. While losing a solo spot might irritate some guitarists, the result became a defining moment in Metallica history.
“Not that Kirk doesn’t get enough solos, but Cliff took his solo, which I think is just so cool,” Trujillo added.
Beyond the technical details, Trujillo spoke about the emotional weight “Orion” carries when the band performs it live today. He described the track as a unifying force, both for the band members on stage and the audience.
“This is a song that automatically brings us together and it has to do with the emotion and the personality of the song,” Trujillo said. “It’s so infectious that you have to be together and you also have to be together with the fans.”
For Robert, playing those lines is a direct connection to his predecessor.
“Is it the spirit of Cliff? absolutely. The song is probably the closest thing to the spirit of Cliff and that’s why you need to be together.”
The legacy of Metallica‘s legendary bassist Cliff Burton was celebrated in style yesterday (February 10) in his hometown of Castro Valley, California. Marking what would have been the musician’s 64th birthday, the historic Chabot Theater played host to the ninth annual “Cliff Burton Day.”
You can watch the event here.
