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Jason Newsted explains why he left Metallica

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ManUnkindH

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7gTrKwkQ9Y

It is an hour long interview, but he explains some very interesting facts that I didn't know about Metallica until I saw this.
I really love Jason and his honesty, but looking back I think all of them made some fucked up decisions in that period: they were drugs and painkillers addicted, alcoholics, problems within their own families etc.
Anyway, it was very interesting to watch so enjoy.
 
Rasko said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7gTrKwkQ9Y

It is an hour long interview, but he explains some very interesting facts that I didn't know about Metallica until I saw this.
I really love Jason and his honesty, but looking back I think all of them made some fucked up decisions in that period: they were drugs and painkillers addicted, alcoholics, problems within their own families etc.
Anyway, it was very interesting to watch so enjoy.
Click to expand...

At work so I won't be able to watch until later but does Jason give any new reasons outside of being low man on the totem pole, getting picked on and lack of creative freedom?
 
I haven't watched the interview, but if it's anything like that documentary they made for VH1 like 10-12 years ago, the reason was basically that everyone in the band treated him like shit, right? That they never made him feel like he was really a part of the group after their original bassist died.
 
Rasko said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7gTrKwkQ9Y

It is an hour long interview, but he explains some very interesting facts that I didn't know about Metallica until I saw this.
I really love Jason and his honesty, but looking back I think all of them made some fucked up decisions in that period: they were drugs and painkillers addicted, alcoholics, problems within their own families etc.
Anyway, it was very interesting to watch so enjoy.
Click to expand...

At first when I saw the thread I'm like "huh again?" but then I realized its the video I was thinking about :)

Its definitely a good interview to get a little inside info. I'll always be a Metallica fan but Jason really got the short end of the stick for awhile. I miss his backing vocals on Creeping Death and Battery :(
 
Viewt said:
I haven't watched the interview, but if it's anything like that documentary they made for VH1 like 10-12 years ago, the reason was basically that everyone in the band treated him like shit, right? That they never made him feel like he was really a part of the group after their original bassist died.
Click to expand...

It was his involvement with Echobrain or whatever the band was called, basically he wasn't allowed to be in another band.
 
Kill3r7 said:
At work so I won't be able to watch until later but does Jason give any new reasons outside of being low man on the totem pole, getting picked on and lack of creative freedom?
Click to expand...

Yes, he goes into further details which I'll not spoil for you, but like I said, if you're a Metallica fan this is all very interesting.
 
Metallica has freely admitted to their faults in this in their documentary back in 2004, so yeah, really nothing new. They were alcoholic bastards, there you go.
 
Aiii said:
Metallica has freely admitted to their faults in this in their documentary back in 2004, so yeah, really nothing new. They were alcoholic bastards, there you go.
Click to expand...

I don't know if you watched this interview, but there's definitely some extra information in here, like what happened during the months before his departure and some insight in his personal life after Metallica.
 
well he went on to work with Voivod while the other guys continued to be post-1980s Metallica, so I'd say he probably got the better end of the deal.

except for money, I guess.
 
Does he talk about how he dropped off the face of the earth after releasing his solo album? Someone hijacked his social accounts or something, and he ended up killing all of them. Now the only sign of his presence is this message:
IMHHBGr.png

http://newstedheavymetal.com/

Which isn't weird or creepy at all! I miss the guy. I love Rob, don't get me wrong, but Jason had such an amazing energy live. And don't get me started on Rob and Kirk attempting to do backing vocals, if you can even call them that.
 
Remembering his Creeping Death performance in San Diego 1992 sends chills down my spine. Moscow 1991 too, absolutely amazing.
 
Shout out to Kalamazoo, MI!

Those midwest family values kept his feet on the ground and head straight. That was really nice to hear for some reason.

Good interview. The host just let him talk without constant interruptions. He has really matured very well over the years. He seems like a nice guy.
 
Really good interview, but not a ton of new info. Only a part of it has to do with him leaving, and most of it has already been out there despite him saying he's never shared the story before. What James said to him is pretty much the only new bit there.

Some interesting bits about how he views his hazing, saying most of it was during the months he was playing with them but not an official member. Once he was a real member he says it died down, and that even during it wasn't bad in his eyes.

Also interesting that he says he's never listened to the Loads straight through and actually doesn't know which songs are on which album, so he can't say what his favorites off those albums are.

I don't get why he seems so against therapy. He says he thought they showed too much of themselves in Some Kind of Monster, which I think is nonsense. I seem to recall him really going in against therapy in the This Monster Lives book. I need to reread it sometime. If you want more info, I would suggest finding a copy of that book. There's way more info about the months before Some Kind of Monster in there from the eyes of outsiders (the directors) so it's probably the least biased view we'll ever have of the situation.
 
Hero_of_the_Day said:
Really good interview, but not a ton of new info. Only a part of it has to do with him leaving, and most of it has already been out there despite him saying he's never shared the story before. What James said to him is pretty much the only new bit there.

Some interesting bits about how he views his hazing, saying most of it was during the months he was playing with them but not an official member. Once he was a real member he says it died down, and that even during it wasn't bad in his eyes.

Also interesting that he says he's never listened to the Loads straight through and actually doesn't know which songs are on which album, so he can't say what his favorites off those albums are.

I don't get why he seems so against therapy. He says he thought they showed too much of themselves in Some Kind of Monster, which I think is nonsense. I seem to recall him really going in against therapy in the This Monster Lives book. I need to reread it sometime. If you want more info, I would suggest finding a copy of that book. There's way more info about the months before Some Kind of Monster in there from the eyes of outsiders (the directors) so it's probably the least biased view we'll ever have of the situation.
Click to expand...

What did James say? Don't have time to watch the entire vid unfortunately.
 
It's telling how few writing credits he got during his time with the band. Always on a hiding to nothing replacing a best mate who died in a horrible accident.

But yeah James (mainly) was a complete arsehole about Jasons side projects. If he wasn't going through drug rehab Jason would still be in the band IMO.

The whole St Anger doc is a complete car crash. A group of guys who have spent 20 years seeing each other every day but unable to interact with each other at all. Bunch of complete children.
 
Man...these old shows. sogood.gif

First time I saw Metallica was in that era (Metallica/GnR co-headliners thing in '92) and it was a phenomenal night. I've found clips and recording of the GnR audio from the show I was at but cannot find anything from the Metallica portion. Really wish I could
 
Kuros said:
It's telling how few writing credits he got during his time with the band. Always on a hiding to nothing replacing a best mate who died in a horrible accident.

But yeah James (mainly) was a complete arsehole about Jasons side projects. If he wasn't going through drug rehab Jason would still be in the band IMO.

The whole St Anger doc is a complete car crash. A group of guys who have spent 20 years seeing each other every day but unable to interact with each other at all. Bunch of complete children.
Click to expand...

Good point, just:

...And Justice For All:
Blackened

Metallica (the black album):
My Friend of Misery

Load:
Nothing (no, not King Nothing, I mean literally no songs)

Reload:
1 song whose name escapes me because it wasn't Fuel or Fixxxer.
 
EleventhHourSuperpower said:
Good point, just:

...And Justice For All:
Blackened

Metallica (the black album):
My Friend of Misery

Load:
Nothing (no, not King Nothing, I mean literally no songs)

Reload:
1 song whose name escapes me because it wasn't Fuel or Fixxxer.
Click to expand...

I enjoy My Friend of Misery a lot. That is an underrated song by them IMO.
 
James was in a really bad, really dark (extremely well documented) place at the time, so I'm sure that was just his way of coping with being hurt. I hope behind the scenes he's apologized, but somehow I feel like he hasn't.

Anyway, nice interview but literally 5 seconds of new information in an hour plus. I'd still love to know what Jason has been up to since the post I made above. I know he was on stage with Voivod last month, which was like the first time anyone had heard from him in years...
 
metsallica said:
James was in a really bad, really dark (extremely well documented) place at the time, so I'm sure that was just his way of coping with being hurt. I hope behind the scenes he's apologized, but somehow I feel like he hasn't.

Anyway, nice interview but literally 5 seconds of new information in an hour plus. I'd still love to know what Jason has been up to since the post I made above. I know he was on stage with Voivod last month, which was like the first time anyone had heard from him in years...
Click to expand...

His Newsted EP sounds pretty awesome. Apparently he put out a full cd but I haven't checked it out yet.
 
Vegetable Lasagna said:
It's almost impossible taking any of these guys seriously after Some Kind of Monster.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I can't believe they were willing to show they are just a bunch of normal people with feelings and issues like that. You're supposed to bury that shit deep down inside, not share it with the world like a bunch of pussies!
 
Deadstar said:
His Newsted EP sounds pretty awesome. Apparently he put out a full cd but I haven't checked it out yet.
Click to expand...
Yes, the full-length came out right before his exit from social media. I have a copy signed by Jason! It's a solid album, if a little generic. Good to have him singing again, though.
 
Saw this about a year or so when it aired on scuzz, yeah it's interesting, shame he dissapeared tho was looking forward to more new music from newstead
 
Awesome—will watch. I stopped caring about Metallica after Newsted left. It was more of a coincidence than anything, but seemed like an appropriate, end-of-an-era way to leave them.
 
Hesemonni said:
For celebratory reasons:

Metallica - Harvester of Sorrow, Moscow '91.

I got into Metallica during Justice / Black album period and he's my favorite Metallica bassist.
Click to expand...

Haven't been following Metallica for almost 20 years now, but thanks for reminding me that they had the best live (metal) sound ever in the early 90s. Yeah that was their peak when it comes to live performances, Black album still was their downfall for me.

On topic: After all those years I finally understand just how tragic Cliff's death was for the band. He was their teacher when it comes to all the harmonic stuff and (if I remember correctly) because he was the oldest member in the band he was able to balance out those dickheads Lars + James.

I want to relive my teenage years in a parallel universe where Dave Mustane gets his alcohol usage in check and Cliff survives :(
 
Markoman said:
Haven't been following Metallica for almost 20 years now, but thanks for reminding me that they had the best live (metal) sound ever in the early 90s. Yeah that was their peak when it comes to live performances, Black album still was their downfall for me.

On topic: After all those years I finally understand just how tragic Cliff's death was for the band. He was their teacher when it comes to all the harmonic stuff and (if I remember correctly) because he was the oldest member in the band he was able to balance out those dickheads Lars + James.

I want to relive my teenage years in a parallel universe where Dave Mustane gets his alcohol usage in check and Cliff survives :(
Click to expand...

Perfectly happy Dave left Metallica. We wouldn't have got Megadeth and as bad as Kirk's lead playing has become Dave's has always been scatter gun stuff. Kirk's playing was perfect for 80s Metallica.
 
Hesemonni said:
For celebratory reasons:

Metallica - Harvester of Sorrow, Moscow '91.

I got into Metallica during Justice / Black album period and he's my favorite Metallica bassist.
Click to expand...


Creeping Death at the same gig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjjCp_QU5Qk
Jason sings at 5:44 mark.

I think that was the greatest rock concert of all time, but unfortunately some 20+ people died that night.

It was the only time the west conquered Russia and it was all done with fucking metal!!
 
Timedog said:
What happened to him?
Click to expand...

It was the peak of his alcohol addiction. Brings out the worst in people.
I'm 100% sure that Jason wouldn't have left if James wasn't in that state at the time. He was drinking liters of beer first thing in the morning, even Jason says that during this interview.
 
Timedog said:
What happened to him?
Click to expand...

What didn't happen to james around that time, he was drinking bad at like 9am and drunk. Probably on painkillers around that time for back problems. He even talked out how he feel out of love playing the guitar and was burnt out, troubled family life at home.

I'm surprised he even returned to the band when he cleaned himself up because in some kind of monster he seemed checked out of the whole band life thing. I'm happy he was able to find love in music again.
 
That was a great fucking interview. Didn't expect to watch the entire hour of it but I did. Newsteds a great storyteller and had some very interesting things to say.
 
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