Kirk Hammett shares fond memory of Cliff Burton on anniversary of his death

Metallica's Kirk Hammett paid tribute to the late-Cliff Burton Sunday in a social post marking the 34th anniversary of the legendary bassist's tragic death.

Hammett shared an old photo of himself and Burton onstage and added a heartfelt note in the caption.

"Cliff was one of my closest friends," Hammett wrote. "He was really smart and funny too. We shared a love for horror, H.P. Lovecraft, and The Velvet Underground. He constantly pushed me to be a better person and musician.

"One of his favorite quotes he would say to me often was, 'There is power in Truth, never back down."

Cliff joined Metallica in 1982 and performed on the band's first three albums. He died tragically in a tour bus accident on September 27, 1986, at age 24.

"It was so unexpected when he left us. I will always remember him," Hammett concluded.

Metallica pays homage to Burton during each live show. The band also shared an old photo of him Sunday to mark the date.

"We miss you, Cliff," read the caption.

Cliff's father, Ray Burton, passed away this past January at age 94. Ray remained in close contact with Metallica through the decades. He even spoke on behalf of his son at Metallica's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.

In memory of his son, Ray famously used his Metallica royalties to fund a scholarship for musicians at Cliff's old high school.

This article was first published on iheart.com and is republished here with permission