From Wikipedia

Metallica
In 1982, Trauma traveled to Los Angeles to perform at the Whisky a Go Go.[3] Among those in attendance were James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, both members of Metallica, which had formed the previous year. Upon hearing, as Hetfield described it, "this amazing shredding" (which later became "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth"), the two went in search of what they thought was an amazing guitar player. When they learned that what they had heard was a bass solo by Burton, they decided to recruit him for their own band. They asked him to replace departed bassist Ron McGovney, and since Burton thought that Trauma was "starting to get a little commercial",[5] he agreed. The idea of having to move to Los Angeles did not sit well with him, and said he would join only if the band would relocate from Los Angeles to his native San Francisco Bay Area.[3] Metallica, eager to have Burton in the band, left their origin of Los Angeles to make a home in El Cerrito,[6] a town located across the bay from San Francisco.
Burton's first recording with Metallica was the Megaforce demo. A demo tape the band had made prior to Burton's joining, No Life 'til Leather, managed to come into the hands of John Zazula, owner of Megaforce Records.[7] The band relocated to Old Bridge, New Jersey and quickly secured a record deal with Zazula's label.[7] Its debut album, Kill 'Em All, features Burton's famous solo piece, "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth", which showcased his use of effects, such as a wah-wah pedal (until then the wah-wah pedal had been the near-exclusive domain of six-string guitarists,[3] with the exception of Geezer Butler on Black Sabbath's debut album, and occasionally ultra-progressive bassists such as Chris Squire).
The band's second album, Ride the Lightning, showcased the band's increasing musical growth.[8] Burton's songwriting abilities were growing, and he received credit on six of the album's eight songs.[9] Burton's playing style and use of effects is showcased on two tracks: the chromatic intro to "For Whom the Bell Tolls", and the "lead bass" on "The Call of Ktulu".
The increase of musicianship on Ride the Lightning caught the attention of major record labels.[7] Metallica was signed to Elektra Records, and began working on its third album, Master of Puppets, which is considered by most critics to be a landmark album in both thrash and the whole of metal.[10] Burton is featured heavily on a number of tracks, most notably the instrumental "Orion", which again featured Burton's lead bass playing style. The album also contained Burton's favorite Metallica song "Master of Puppets".[11] Master of Puppets was the band's commercial breakthrough,[12] but it would be Burton's final album with Metallica.
Burton's final performance was in Stockholm, Sweden on September 26, 1986.[13] One of Burton's final performances with the band is available for free to download from Metallica's website.[14]

Please watch these amazing bass solos by the major rager, Mr. Cliff Burton of Metallica (peace be upon him).

These pages are dedicated to Ronnie James Dio, the singer known from Dio, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and numerous other bands. Ronnie was with us in the rock world from 1957 until his death on May 16th, 2010. He and his work will not be forgotten. Ever.

Randall William "Randy" Rhoads (December 6, 1956 – March 19, 1982) was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. A devoted student of classical guitar, Rhoads often combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style. While on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, he would seek out classical guitar tutors for lessons. Despite his relatively short career, Rhoads is a major influence on neo-classical metal players that emerged in the 1980s. He is cited as an influence by many contemporary guitarists of all styles. He is included in several 'Greatest Guitarist' lists.

Heh, I was just going to mention why this thread hadn't included Randy Rhoads so far. Indeed an awesome guitarist, although I preferred his contribution to Paranoid. Some time ago a friend told me about the Randy Rhoads Tribute album, I really need to get that one ...

Yes you must! Rhandy Rhoads tribute is an excellent Ozzy album. You can hear all of the songs from the album on youtube, plus the MTV video of Crazy Train.

Bon Scott

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott (9 July 1946 – 19 February 1980) was a Scottish-born Australian rock musician, best known for being the lead singer and lyricist of Australian hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980.[1] He was born in Forfar, Scotland, and moved to Melbourne, Australia with his family in 1952 at the age of six.
Scott formed his first band, The Spektors, in 1964 and became the band's drummer and occasional lead vocalist. He performed in several other bands including The Valentines and Fraternity before replacing Dave Evans as the lead singer of AC/DC in 1974.
In the July 2004 issue of Classic Rock, Scott was rated as number one in a list of the "100 Greatest Frontmen Of All Time" ahead of Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.[2] Hit Parader ranked Scott as fifth on their 2006 list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Vocalists of all time.[3]
AC/DC's popularity grew throughout the 1970s, initially in Australia, and then internationally. Their 1979 album Highway to Hell reached the top twenty in the United States, and the band seemed on the verge of a commercial breakthrough. However, on 19 February 1980, Scott died after a night out in London. AC/DC briefly considered disbanding, but the group quickly recruited vocalist Brian Johnson of the British glam rock band Geordie. AC/DC's subsequent album, Back in Black, was released only five months later, and was a tribute to Scott. It went on to become the second best-selling album in history.

Oh, you could help out too. Just start a thread for Dead Rockers that are not included in Kalki's Dead Rockers thread.

Dawn Crosby was the lead singer of the underground act Detente.
Following her exit from Detente, Dawn Crosby together with producer Ross Robinson went on to form Fear of God, which was signed to Warner Bros. Records.
The band went on to record the Within the Veil album in 1991. The band was slotted to become a major band in the growing alternative music scene, even though the music was dark and dungeon-inspired. The video released from this album was "Betrayed". Following the release of this album Crosby and the band split, and she reformed the band with new members and released a heavy Pantera-esque album called Toxic Voodoo.
Crosby died of liver failure from substance abuse in 1996.

His grave is in the Fremantle cemetery in Western Australia. They have a very difficult time maintaining his grave as his fans keep stealing his memorial plaque.

Well those are true fans then!

Motorhead Wurzel dies of heart attack
by Ryan Parry, Daily Mirror 13/07/2011

Former Motorhead guitarist Wurzel has died from a heart attack. The rock musician, aka Michael Burston, passed away aged 61 on Saturday.

Wurzel joined Motorhead – most famous for their song Ace of Spades – in 1984 and played on nine studio and live albums until 1995. Lead singer Lemmy said: “Wurzel was my friend and my brother and he’s never going to laugh with me again ... or do anything. And that truly and cosmically sucks. RIP Wurz Godspeed.”

The band added on its website: “Wurz was pouring a Guinness and cracking a joke when he had a heart attack. At least we know he went with a smile.”

Burston got his nickname during his time in the Army because of his West Country roots, scruffy appearance and likeness to TV’s Worzel Gummidge. Motorhead dedicated its Sonisphere Festival set in Knebworth to their old bandmate on Sunday.
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Here is my own video of Wurzel, from the Motorhead gig I attended in Nov 2008. The song is Motorhead's greatest hit; Ace Of Spades. Wurzel is there, a special guest appearance alongside the band:

So wasn't Wurzel in the band until his last days? Why was he making a guest appearance?

That truly sucks by the way that such a heavy duty rocker bit the dust. Peace be upon him...

No, he was in the band 1984-1995.

"Guest appearance" because it is something Motorhead does from time to time, to invite a previous band member to play a song or two. In the '25 & Alive Boneshaker' DVD (25th anniversary concert) they invited former band member and guitarist Eddie Clarke to play 2 songs. Clarke was part of the original band that produced all their famous hits like Ace Of Spades and others.

Interesting trivia that I found out: The cover of the Ace Of Spades album shows the band dressed in leather on a sand dune, as if they are cowboys in the desert or something. Turns out that they were on a building site in my home town!

Okay, ya that's cool. Bands that remember their old mates are doing a good thing. I have a Manowar live CD, where they invited their old guitarist from the like the first album back to do some classic songs. I think it is cool when new band members don't get jealous of the old ones.

That kind of thing could probably never happen in a band like Kiss where Ace Frehley used a sign Kiss memorabilia books by crossing out the pics of Vinnie Vincent on every page.