(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth

Album: Kill 'Em All (1983)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This instrumental track from Metallica's debut album, Kill 'Em All, is comprised of a compilation of different solos Cliff Burton had done live and pieced together as a complete bass solo on the album. It's a showcase for Burton's soloing, composition and arrangement skills, as well as his influences, which include Geezer Butler and Geddy Lee.

    The first 2:34 of the song is solely Burton's bass. At 2:34 he is accompanied by drummer Lars Ulrich. It is highly regarded as one of the best rock bass solos ever. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Richard - Tulsa, OK
  • Cliff Burton joined Metallica in 1982 after founders Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield spotted him onstage at a show with his band Trauma, and decided they had to have him in their lineup. They staged a campaign to win him over, dissociating from their original bass player, Ron McGovney, in the process. One of Burton's demands was that they relocate from Los Angeles to San Francisco, where he lived. They agreed, not only because they wanted him in the band, but because the metal scene was much better there.

    Burton was a great fit for the band, but his time was cut short: He died in 1986 in a tour bus accident when the band was supporting their third album, Master Of Puppets. He was just 24.

Comments: 34

  • Axeminister Of Bass & Vile from Dante's Fifth Circle: AngerHow Rob comes into these comments is beyond me, Rob is epic , but couldn't hold Cliff's clipboard if they were QB's in the NFL. Cliff was an innovator of surging levels like George Harrison, he taught the others in the band directive, arrangement, & imagination with his width of knowledge and leadership. When Cliff got taken, this band became a 2nd rate commercial crap band making money....Rob's saved face for the Bass spot , but they suck now
  • Randomass PersonNever would have touched bass if it weren't for this. Cliff was a legend. it sucks we lost him in the way we did.
  • Kieran from Brisbane, AustraliaSome of it sounds like it was lifted from a classical piece. Cliff was well into classical music and very cultured and helped James and Lars broaden their horizens immensely, musically and in many other ways too.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjRob Trujillo is better with the Funk/slap-bass style playing. Cliff was better with playing lead and with passion. And they both have more speed than any bass player I've ever seen.
  • Molly from Allegan, Mibass solo, take 1
  • Jacob from Jackson, TnI swear, Cliff Burton was the greatest Bass player to ever grace the riffs of Metal. He played Bass like Kirk plays Guitar. Trujillo gives Cliff a run for his money, but I still think Cliff *barely* beats him out. Just barely.
  • Adam from Perry, NyThis goes to show cliff was greatest bassist ever.
  • Shingami from Lusaka, ZambiaSay whatever you want but this was an amazing instrumental first time i heard this i thought ok this is good then i found out it was on bass and i listened to it again and it blew me away totally new experience to be able to play that on bass is art. I never thought a bass guitar would produce such sounds.
    Cliff was a genius
  • Dylan from Euclid, OhCliff was the one who enspired me to play bass guitar. RIP Cliff!
  • Dave from Brick, NjTo me... The greatest artist, musician or otherwise, is the one who can convey and connect, on an emotional level, to me. I really couldn't care less about their technical skills.

    Simply put, no other artist has been able to ever even come close to grasping the far ranging emotional depths of my late cold war heart as Mr. Cliff Burton has in this masterpiece.

  • Austin from Greenwood, ScI agree that John Paul Jones plays alot better then Cliff, BUT! Cliff is extremely good, I'm not saying he's bad, I'm just saying the members of Led Zeppelin were Gods...
  • Rickey from Lansing, MiI aspire to one day be as good at bass and composing as him
  • Luke from Dayton, OhSuch great power, destroyed by a bus
  • Francesco from Montappone, ItalyIt's a Fanta-solo. Cliff, you're the best...
  • Austin from Smallsville,new England, --The members of metallica saw Cliff performing this solo at a bar. They later asked him to join
  • Alex from Wayland, Mnjohn paul "freakin" jones isnt near as good as cliff burton
  • Bender from East West Virginia, VaA friend of mine, CHEATSHEET, says thiat this is Burton at his f***ing best. I have to agree with him.
  • William from Bristol, VaCliff Burtin is a god! A BASS GOD!!!
  • Don from San Antonio, TxI got to see this live...If you're interested in what I saw check out the songfact for "Trapped under Ice".
  • Matt from Manistee, MiCliff Burton was just about the most badass bass player around, along with steve Harris. great song
  • Rocco from Toronto, CanadaI can't help feeling sad when listening to this song. Such a great talent lost.
  • Carlospassage from Cali-colombia, South AmericaVibrante... absolutamente demencial... el "Bajo" lo ha tocado Dios!
  • Sanitarium from Sharon, KsBest f*cking bass solo by the best bassist ever!!!

    RIP Cliff Burton
  • Bill from Arroyo Gande, CaGreen Day sucks dick
  • Rg from San Diego, CaAfter witnessing Cliff's amazing prowess on bass with some local band called 'Trauma' a very wise Lars and James invited Cliff to join Metallica, replacing the original Metallica bass man Ron McGovney.
  • Andy from Columbus, OhThis is the best bass solo. Period. Any one who has seen the "Cliff 'Em All" video, knows that during live performances, Cliff would lead into "For Whom The Bells Toll" with this. Simply amazing!!
  • Jt from Tullahoma, TnThis was an excellent Instrumental from Metallica. I like it better than Call of Ktulu
  • Sindre from MosjÃ?en, NorwayYeah, well... How about John Paul freakin' Jones?
  • Eric from Milltown, Inthis song is the reason i picked up the bass. cliff is (in my opinion) the best bassist ever. geezer butler even said he was amazing. if it wasn't for him saying "bass solo, take one" at the beginning, most people wouldn't know it was a bass. if you ever get the time, download some bootlegs of him (just don't tell lars), he'll blow your mind. Long Live Cliff
  • Justin from Rio Dell, Caum maybe it wasnt the best bass solo in the world, but it was among the top 5 at least...the only other 3 people i could think of that could match or beat his skill level whould be Jaco Pasorious, Billy Sheehan, and Geezer Butler
  • Greg from Oakville, CanadaUmmmmmmmm i don't think that's one of the best bass solo's ever.

    In my opinion the 5 best bass solo's ever are in the songs "Birdland" by Weather Report, "Hemispheres" by Rush, "Eminence Front" by The Who, "Long Distance Run Around/The Fish" by Yes, and "Power Crunch Time" by Les Claypool.
  • Devon from Westerville, OhThe Green Day song "Pulling Teeth" got the title from this solo.
  • Zeynep from Ankara, TurkeyIn my opinion, no one has reached to the ecstatic level of that solo. 'Thank you for your beautiful music, Cliff'.May God rest you in peace:)
  • Devon from Westerville, OhCliff was a beast on bass. He is one of my favorite bass players along with Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan. It's a shame he died so young.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he Inspired

Muhammad Ali: His Musical Legacy and the Songs he InspiredSong Writing

Before he was the champ, Ali released an album called I Am The Greatest!, but his musical influence is best heard in the songs he inspired.

Michael Sweet of Stryper

Michael Sweet of StryperSongwriter Interviews

Find out how God and glam metal go together from the Stryper frontman.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.