![\"Metallica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/men_s_journal_718\/f8cc844aa0515cd9cacb503473e86829.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nForty-three years ago today, a song was released that was so stunning that it continues to be studied and celebrated decades later. Metallica’s 1983 track “(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth” even topped a prestigious list of the greatest bass guitar solos ever recorded that was decided on by bassists.<\/p>\n
Metallica’s ‘(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth’ Was Released 43 Years Ago Today, on July 25, 1983<\/p>\n
Metallica frontman James Hetfield with bassist Cliff Burton in a dynamic live moment.Photo by Paul Natkin\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
After previously releasing several demos in 1982, Metallica released its debut album, <\/a>Kill ‘Em All<\/a>, on July 25, 1983<\/a>. The release featured several iconic songs that are still considered among the band’s best tracks ever, including “The Four Horsemen” and “Seek & Destroy.” In addition, the fifth song on the track list of the legendary album was “(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth.”<\/p>\n Credited to Metallica’s legendary bassist Cliff Burton, “(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth” is an instrumental track that is just over four minutes long. Essentially one long bass solo, Burton dominates every second of the track even once his bandmates join in. An odyssey of sorts, Burton’s virtuoso playing on the song pulls listeners in to take the journey with him. Still stunning more than four decades after it was recorded, it is truly tragic that the world was deprived of Burton’s artistry when he suddenly passed away in 1986.<\/p>\n Who Ranked Metallica’s ‘(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth’ the Greatest Bass Solo of All Time?<\/p>\n In January 2024, Guitar World published its ranking of the “20 greatest bass solos of all time<\/a>.” That article was written by Nick Wells, the former editor of Bass Guitar magazine from 2009 to 2011, whose profile on the website also lists him as a bass player<\/a>. Additionally, it featured input about some of the entries by iconic bassists like Duff McKagan and John Entwistle. That article named the Metallica song “(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth” at No. 1.<\/p>\n The article quoted Metallica’s current bassist, Robert Trujillo, describing what made Cliff Burton such an amazing musical artist. “Cliff used his instrument as a melodic force. His approach was ‘I’m gonna play what I feel, and if you don’t like it, screw you!’ And that was the bottom line.”<\/p>\n The Full List:\u00a0Guitar World’s 20 Greatest Bass Solos of All Time<\/a><\/p>\n 20.\u00a0Dennis Coffey\u00a0\u2013 ‘Scorpio’ (1971) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Bob Babbitt<\/p>\n 19.\u00a0George Duke\u00a0\u2013 ‘Reach For It’ (1978) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Byron Miller<\/p>\n 18. Dream Theater \u2013 ‘Dance of Eternity’ (1999) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0John Myung<\/p>\n 17. Jr. Walker and the All Stars \u2013 ‘Mutiny’ (1966) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0James Jamerson<\/p>\n 16. Mastodon \u2013 ‘Teardrinker’ (2021) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Troy Sanders<\/p>\n 15.\u00a0Al Jarreau\u00a0\u2013 ‘Our Love’ (1985) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Nathan East<\/p>\n 14.\u00a0Paul Simon\u00a0\u2013 ‘You Can Call Me Al’ (1986) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Bakithi Kumalo<\/p>\n 13.\u00a0John Patitucci\u00a0\u2013 ‘My Summer Vacation’ (1993) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0John Patitucci<\/p>\n 12. Red Hot Chili Peppers \u2013 ‘Aeroplane’ (1995) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Flea<\/p>\n 11. Dirty Loops \u2013 ‘Baby’ (2014) \u2013 Bassist: Henrik Linder<\/p>\n 10.\u00a0Marcus Miller\u00a0\u2013 ‘Scoop’ (1995) \u2013 Bassist: Marcus Miller<\/p>\n 9. Guns N’ Roses \u2013 ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ (1987) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Duff McKagan<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0Stanley Clarke\u00a0\u2013 ‘School Days’ (1976) \u2013 Bassist: Stanley Clarke<\/p>\n 7. Mr. Big \u2013 ‘Addicted to That Rush’ (1989) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Billy Sheehan<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Jeff Beck\u00a0\u2013 ‘Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers’ (2007) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Tal Wilkenfeld<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Victor Wooten\u00a0\u2013 ‘Norwegian Wood’ (1997) \u2013 Bassist: Victor Wooten<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Jaco Pastorius\u00a0\u2013 ‘Portrait of Tracy’ (1976) \u2013 Bassist: Jaco Pastorius<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Donny Hathaway\u00a0\u2013 ‘Voices Inside (Everything is Everything)’ (1972) \u2013 Bassist:\u00a0Willie Weeks<\/p>\n 2. The Who \u2013 ‘My Generation’ (1965) \u2013 Bassist: John Entwistle<\/p>\n 1. Metallica \u2013 ‘(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth’ (1983) \u2013 Bassist: Cliff Burton<\/p>\n Next: 1995 Track Ranked the ‘Most Difficult Guitar Solo to Play’ of All Time<\/a><\/p>\n This story was originally published by Men’s Journal<\/a> on Jul 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. 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