Jason Newsted leaves Metallica.

January 17, 2001 3:32 PM

Jason Newsted leaves Metallica. "Due to private and personal reasons, and the physical damage that I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love, I must step away from the band". Any enterprising bass players looking for an opportunity? :)
posted by pnevares (15 comments total)

Sad but true. Read the statement here.
posted by jhiggy at 3:39 PM on January 17, 2001

He was also heard to comment, "So where can I find this Napster thingy, now?"
posted by Skot at 3:43 PM on January 17, 2001

And this is sad because...?

In the music world, I find this to be sad
posted by gluechunk at 3:43 PM on January 17, 2001

Think napster caused atleast *some* of this?
posted by tiaka at 4:07 PM on January 17, 2001

One down, three to go.
posted by Optamystic at 4:10 PM on January 17, 2001

tiaka, actually, I do think so. I always got the impression that Newsted was a lot more "punk rock" than the rest of the band. Meaning that he was more in it for the music and the fans than the cash. Not that he didn't get sucked into the business along with the rest of the band, but I bet it bugged him a lot more than say Lars (who spews forth as much insincere BS as any dot bomb CEO).

I don't think it's sad at all, I hope he continues to be involved in music in some way. I also hope the rest of the band takes this opportunity to slip into the "where are they now?" category having already succeeded at achieving total mediocrity as musicians.

If only Cliff were here, he'd have never let them suck this bad.
posted by ritualdevice at 5:49 PM on January 17, 2001

Several months back, around the time of Lars' trip to Capitol Hill, I heard rumours of Newstead's imminent departure from the band -- not because of the politics and business, but because he has experienced a nasty percentage of hearing loss. It wouldn't surprise me, all things considered, and he wouldn't be the first guy to opt out of continuing with a band in order to save his ability to continue to hear and love music.
posted by Dreama at 6:03 PM on January 17, 2001

Obviously he could no longer survive on the limited resources available to the band now that Napster has destroyed their market.
posted by daveadams at 7:45 PM on January 17, 2001

maybe les claypool will audition, as primus is on hiatus...i believe i read he and kirk were classmates, and les *was* going to audition, or did, around the time the band hired newsted...
posted by judomadonna at 10:02 PM on January 17, 2001

This is the best news I've heard all day.
posted by grank at 11:35 PM on January 17, 2001

hearing loss is a bitch. I was in a pretty freaking loud rock band for about 7 years. I can still "hear" ok, seems like I have good range and sensitivity and stuff, but my ears ring ALL THE TIME. (If you've got tinnitis as well, then you know that all caps is definitely warranted)

I can only imagine what 14 years of being in Metallica would do to your hearing...

I don't think anyone was implying that Napster's drain on revenue made him decide to quit, more that the whole thing generated lots of bad publicity and loss of credibility to their fans.

But reading his statement, the hearing loss thing makes more sense.
posted by ritualdevice at 1:33 AM on January 18, 2001

Napster 1 - 0 Metallica
posted by fullerine at 4:25 AM on January 18, 2001

I thought Hetfield was always the one with the hearing problems.
posted by Cavatica at 5:00 AM on January 18, 2001

I'm sure they _all_ have hearing problems, and as a fellow tinnitus sufferer, I would be willing to bet that Newstead leaving the band has _nothing_ to do with Napster aggravations or Lars being a schmuck and everything to do with keeping some semblance of normal aural functions for the second half of his life. I'm not a big Metallica fan (nor do I hate them) but I wish Jason well.
posted by werty at 6:44 AM on January 18, 2001

"Tinnitus CAN be cured !"
posted by grank at 2:06 PM on January 18, 2001