Anthrax Bello recalls last words to Burton

Anthrax bassist Frank Bello has recalled the last conversation between him and Cliff Burton, just hours before the Metallica man died in a tour bus crash.

The bands were touring Europe together in September 1986 and the bass players had developed a light-hearted ritual at the end of each day – which took on an emotional meaning following the tragedy in Sweden.

Bello tells Loudwire: “After our show and Metallica’s show we’d go to catering and get something to eat for the bus. We’d all sit down, have coffee and talk about the show. Cliff and I would do that, and the last thing we’d say to each other jokingly was, ‘Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow,’ ‘Maybe I will.’

“I started it the last night Cliff was alive. I said, ‘Hey, Cliff – maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.’ And as he’s leaving the room the last thing he says is, ‘Maybe I will.’”

Admitting the memory is always close, Bello says of his late friend: “God rest his soul. He was awesome in every way.”

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.