Green Day’s Mike Dirnt Recalls His First Time Seeing Metallica’s Cliff Burton Play Live

In a new interview with Heavy Consequence, Green Day’s Mike Dirnt recalled being profoundly inspired by seeing Metallica’s late bassist Cliff Burton play live for the first time at a concert in Oakland in 1985. “Before I even knew who he was or before I even saw him in concert, I met Cliff Burton in San Pablo up in the Bay Area,” Dirnt shared. “Then, when I saw [Cliff] onstage at Day on the Green, I was like, ‘Holy crap, I met that guy! Back then I didn’t have records. My friend was listening to Metallica all the time and I heard [Cliff], but then to see him play live… he was every bit as good live as he was on [tape].” Dirnt, who also credits influences like Tommy Stinson of The Replacements and Ross Valory from Journey, was particularly amazed by Burton’s legendary one-take bass solo on “(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth,” cementing Burton’s impact on him as a young musician. (Consequence of Sound)