Was Metallica's Original Bassist Cliff Burton Sacrificed??

We've all heard of satanism in the entertainment industry. Metallica started out as young guys who just wanted to play heavy metal. While recording their second album Ride the Lightning they were sharing a studio with well known satanic band Mercyful Fate. Perhaps the guys in this band opened doors to Metallica they had not seen before. Once Master of Puppets is released they become bigger, therefore catching the attention of the higher ups in the music industry. This also is the time where they are forced to make a decision.

Did the music industry's elite offer fame and fortune to Metallica in exchange for a sacrifice? Flemming Rassmussen, producer of several of Metallica's earlier records, recently stated that Cliff never really fit in with the metal scene. He didnt say anything negative about him but made it sound like he was the odd man out of the four. Maybe the four guys were presented with a contract and Cliff wanted out? Was James, Lars, and Kirk's lust for greed so strong that they were willing to kill their friend and bandmate?

As fans know, Cliff was killed in an alleged bus accident on September 27, 1986. The bus crash details are sketchy. Even James Hetfield had his doubts of whether the bus actually skidded on some black ice. Could Cliff have been killed by some other means and then the bus crashed intentionally. I believe that in these situations, the people that control it dont reveal when, where, or how the event will occur. This would make the rest of the guys in the band to actually think he died in the crash. It wouldnt be until later that they might start piecing it together.

Jason Newsted recently had an in depth interview about joining right after Cliff was killed. He claimed that the Metallica guys were drinking non-stop thru auditioning new guys. He said they were grieving and didnt know how to handle it. Did they feel guilty? Were they drinking their guilt away? The only way they could feel better and move on is to hire a new bassist and claim the fortunes that were guaranteed to them? Within a few weeks Newsted was in as the new bassist. Within the next five years Metallica became one of the biggest rock/metal bands of all time. They have remained that today, even with another bassist.

I found it interesting that Jason Newsted said the day he decided to leave Metallica was September 27, 2001. Was Jason forced with the same type of contract that would take Metallica to another level? Granted he's still around but just got back into the music scene recently. Metallica however are bigger than ever. Within the last ten years they've even got into the movies, another step for financial success. I still enjoy their music but have often wondered what steps they actually took to get to where they are today. There are many more talented metal bands without half the success.