The latest video release commemorating the 30th anniversary of ...And Justice for All is footage from Metallica performing of "To Live Is to Die," the mostly instrumental track with a pre-recorded spoken word verse that was included on the album in tribute to late bassist Cliff Burton. While excerpts from the song have made their way into the band's set at different times, this December 7, 2011 concert marks the first and only full showing of the track.
With a bassline pieced together from recordings left behind by Burton, the song also includes a four-line quote that was a favorite of the bassist's by 17th century German poet Paul Gerhardt: "When a man lies, he murders some part of the world. These are the pale deaths which men miscall their lives."
It also shares a title with Joel McIver's book on Burton, published in 2009 and to date the only book to comprehensively cover the life of the musician and his widespread impact on heavy metal despite his short-lived stint with the thrash titans during their most creatively fruitful years. The comprehensive box set is available for pre-order now, set to ship out on November 2nd.
