Former-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted revealed he hasn’t listened to the band’s new music since quitting back in 2001. During a chat with Metal Hammer magazine, Newsted was asked when he last checked out one of the band’s albums after departing and admitted, “Never. I heard the one where they made the video in prison (St. Anger). I heard one song with my dad while we were riding in the car in Michigan, because the radio is still pretty wed to Metallica, and it went on for f***ing ever. It was eight minutes on the radio, and I went, ‘What the f*** are they doing?’ No disrespect, but I didn’t get it.”
Newsted touched upon his relationship — or lack thereof — with his former-bandmembers today, explaining, “I still talk to Lars (Ulrich) a fair bit, and I send him my stuff and he’s always super-supportive. I really appreciate it, and I respect his opinion. If he called me and asked if I wanted to throw down, I’d say yes, but I’m not sure if I’d say yes to anyone else.”
SIDE NOTES
- Back in 2013, Jason Newsted told NY Hard Rock Examiner that it was his departure from the band in 2001 that was a catalyst for the group to stay together in the long run.
- Following Newsted’s exit, frontman James Hetfield checked into rehab for an extended stay and the album that was being recorded at the time was abandoned.
- Newsted explained, “I had to be the one that stepped up and made the sacrifice for everybody. . . because I did what I did, they’re more successful than they’ve ever been, they still set the standard, James is healthier than he’s ever been in his entire life. I’m clear-eyed again, I’m off drugs, I’m 19-years-old again. I got more years under my belt and I’m still the same fighting weight I was on any of my tours.”
CHECK IT OUT: Metallica on December 31st, 1999 performing “Blackened” live in Detroit: