“Nothing happened in Metallica unless Cliff Burton nodded ‘yes’”: Producer recalls how metal’s biggest band “leaned on” their beloved late bassist

Metallica in 1986.

Metallica’s former producer has looked back on how the heavy metal stars “leaned on” their late bassist Cliff Burton and his musical expertise.

Talking to Metal Hammer, Flemming Rasmussen – whom the band worked with on 1984’s Ride The Lightning, 1986’s Master Of Puppets and 1988’s …And Justice For All – says that even though founders James Hetfield (vocals/guitars) and Lars Ulrich (drums) are seen as the leaders of the four-piece, that wasn’t necessarily true when Burton was around.