Jason Newsted Didn't Want To Leave Metallica 

Who do you prefer? Newsted or Trujillo?

Always loved Jason! He was a crowd favorite live... lots of energy and love for the audience!

I went to school with Jason. Great dude.

If it wasn’t for Jason Metallica wouldn’t have moved on. They owe him a great amount of gratitude. .

"Jason was such a fan (of Metallica) that we wanted to un - fan him " - James Hetfeild.

What kinda “therapist” specializes in Rock Band Therapy first of all and secondly then breaks the patient confidentiality agreement?

For me metallica will never be the same without jason. That energy he gave to the crowd is very unique

Jesus christ, Jason has talked openly about why he quit. Phil can jog on. He's just trying to garner attention.

One of the last songs he worked on with the band was “I disappear” for the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack. How Ironic that song became.

He will always be my favorite Metallica bassist.

A part of me died when Jason left the band. I was 18 back then and I was going through a lot and then finding out my favorite band was falling apart really hit me hard. I'm glad Metallica made it through and although I like Rob and feel he is a good fit, I still miss Jason.

He was metallica back then...can't imagine seatlle 1989 live without him

April 1999, Metallica in Anchorage, AK, I got Jason’s guitar pick at the end of the show when he threw it to the crowd. Greatest concert moment of my life. Chills thinking about that evening.

I've liked James and Kirk in the past. I've NEVER liked Lars. He thinks he's way more than he really is. But the band, as a whole, lost all respect I ever had for them back when the way they treated Jason came to light. The excuses they use to try to explain the way they treated Jason like crap is so lame and feeble, it's embarrassing. AC/DC tragically lost Bon Scott, yet treated Brian Johnson like a brother. Def Leppard tragically lost Steve Clark, but treated Vivian Campbell like brother. They all grieved. They all were in pain. But they were mature adults who made a choice to bring in a new member and handled it like any human beings sould. Jason was a nice guy and the band took advantage of that. James and Lars were freakin' bullies and Kirk was a weakling, just sitting back and letting it happen. Jason stayed WAY longer than I would've. Jason saved that band. Metallica wouldn't have been nearly as good and successful without him. Though I love Rob, the band just isn't the same without Jason. Did Jason ever lash out? YES!!!! They were kicking him around like a dog year end and year out. He was devastated and hurt. There will always be a dark cloud over them for their years, and years.......and years of torturing Jason for absolutely no reason. Again, I don't want to hear the pathetic "we were mourning" excuse. They all 3 deserve to live with the guilt of what they put that guy through for the rest of their lives.

I sure as hell didn’t want him to leave, but I think that’s another reason fans respect Jason so much. He stood up for himself even if it cost him his place in the band.

I've seen Metallica live with both Jason and Robert. And it was such a different vibe with Jason. More energy, better backing vocals, he just seemed to enjoy the music more than Robert does. I know age has slowed them down and Lars misses more than a few beats but still, Metallica on their worst day is better than 95% of the other crap rolling around out there.

"What, I'm the former Metallica member that everyone talks about!" - Dave Mustaine

Metallica has never been the same without Jason. Facts. New era Metallica isn’t even close to being the same band. They’re terrible without Jason who was for sure the heart and soul of them I believe, because he was a super fan of his own group which made you feel like you were right up there with them.

Watch the deleted scenes of Some Kind of Monster. Jason didn’t want to leave. He just didn’t want to be apart of the therapy. He thought it was gay.

Good to here your doing rock feed Matt. Hope your doing well, brother. Keep up the music with that great voice of yours. Stay safe and stay healthy 🙏❤

Jason fit Metallica and still would today. He had the look and style that needed to be there post Cliff. Rob is a great player but looks like a guy from another band that’s filling in for Metallica’s bass player.

Its interesting to think how Jason joined and only wanted to be in Metallica and be excepted, to him being in control and leaving. It's like poetry

Metallica's management were going to work with Eco Brain. Jason's side project. James found out about it and put a stop to it. That is why he quit.

A lot people can imagine on so many what if’s you know? What if Dimebag didn’t get killed? What if Cliff was still alive? What if Jason never quit Metallica? What if John Lennon or John Bonham didn’t die? What if Selena didn’t get shot and killed?

Lars cleared this all up in the documentary. Lars said “he left the foooking band!!!!!!!!!”

That therapist had no idea about boundaries. He was giving the band song ideas! He was a loopy idiot.

14 years of solid service from a great guy, a part of Metallica kinda died when Jason left.

So this isn’t Jason saying this, it’s someone else saying this.

At least Metallica actually admit this was a bad time for them and the Echobrain project being a problem was actually understandable, unlike what happened with Oasis. (3-26-2021) Edit: I'll put some context on Oasis. According to research, Liam of that band expressed his wish about beating his brother Noel, and that wish came true at a festival. Even after they disbanded, Liam called Noel a potato in social media at least once. It's probably over as of now, but I'd say that's maybe ten times worse than this Newsted situation and even worse than the situation with Dave Mustaine.

Always loved there sound with a picked bass and his backup vocals bended good with James's.

Jason has stated that he asked the band to take a year off before they went back into the studio. That clearly indicates he gave them an option which would have kept him in the band.

"You end a relationship when you lose hope that things will get better." Henry Cloud

“...I don’t think Jason wanted to leave the band... I think of what existed… “ I actually totally understand that thought/statement.

Funny thing is, on the documentary, at one point James said that the way Metallica are right now (back then) was the model that Jason wanted to the band

It must have been difficult decision for him to make and at the same time it must have been super difficult to stay in the band for some reason. We don’t know what actually happened between him and the rest of the guys. There must have been tension and anger. Nobody would want to leave Metallica but... something led to his departure, alas.

The Unforgiven lyrics applies directly to Jason’s experience in Metallica

I remember in the SKOM DVD there was a part where management said Jason had wanted to rejoin the band again.

Leaving was Jason’s choice. No one made him do it. The other band members didn’t want him to leave.

There is no questioning that there was friction in the band, they had a meltdown they're human and have spoken fairly openly about this. Also Jason besides feeling disrespected for his side projects and being told not to, he was also physically damaged. so even if he had stayed it would not have been for long, shortly after the split he went in to finally have some work done on the right shoulder, with that being braced he over used the left and then once the right had healed had to have the left done, and then he damaged the right again and went in for a second op on that. He has also clearly said that it was by some fate even the right time to go because the ops nailed him, and then he also had almost flatlined from going cold turkey on his pain meds that he had gotten addicted to in this period of recovery, and now that he is well and being able to go around and do the appearances he does he has also said that physically no matter how much he loved being on the Metallica stage he would not be able to do it anymore his body would not ever handle that. the video of that interview is on RU-vid.

Jason Era is my favorite but Rob is also a monster and at this point has been with them longer than anyone.

The first and only time Jason and Phil met, Phill Toll was escorted out by Jason with " You don`t know anything about me, or us....Get the fuck out" on the bands last meeting. Check Jason`s interview " Scuzz meets Jason.". Jason quit Metallica after James said to him that " other arrangements can be made" after he found out that the Metallica management was interested in supporting his Echobrain project. End of story.

Enjoyed Newsted in Metallica. Grew up on the Black Album. Absolutely loved the earlier albums. Load and Reload are hit and miss. Death Magnetic and Hardwired remind me of And Justice For All. I don't know Trujillo very well. He sounds cool and is a great bass player. To compare the two is unfair. It's kind of like comparing Dime Bag Daryl and Eddie Van Halen. Jason had neck and back injuries from head banging in concerts and needed surgery. James was going back in forth to rehab and had family. Lars was going through a divorce and raising his son. I'm not sure what Kirk was doing, but I think the bad grew apart. Jason wanted to continue with music with his band Echo Brain and still do Metallica. James didn't like it and said no. In conjecture, Jason was like screw you and left the band. I don't think he wanted to stay in the band in the atmosphere of where it was at because of the psychologist being put in the band to keep everyone in check. Jason outgrew his role and capabilities as being just a bass player and became a music producer. The guy is a genius, he was the main guy who wrote music for Flotsam and Jetsam (which is a great heavy metal band) and his latest heavy metal band 'Newsted' , which I wish was still producing songs. I think he reached as far as he could with Metallica and wanted to keep going. Metallica will be ok, they'll still keep playing and putting out albums. I think Jason will continue to be producing music and life goes on.

"HE FOCKING LEFT THE BAND!"

*Did the Therapist lose their license, What ever happen to client Therapist confidentiality clause.*

Cliff was the man. If ever any doubt check out his base solo on Kill Em All

Jason was my Metallica bass player! Cliff is cool but my guy was Jason. New guy feels more like a hired gun than a real blood blother...

Metallica was too harsh on Jason no shit he quit

Jason worked better in the band as Rob as a perfomer, backing vocals, lead vocals. He could play. So what that Rob can play more notes on his Bass Guitar, he's still invisible on stage and I think that's what James wanted.

HE FOCKING LEFT THE BAND!

Things were so frayed. Jason wanted to continue working on his band outside of Metallica and even have them perform as the opening act for some Metallica shows. Lars and James were not happy with Jason splitting his focus between Metallica and another project and did not feel that the fans would respond well to any changes in the "successful Metallica formula". Before going on-stage, Kirk told Jason "we have to have a talk after the show". It seems that Jason walked off stage at the end of the performance and decided to leave the venue, due to what he thought may happen after the show. Jason stated that he left for his mental health.

Jason, of course.

Group therapists? Sounds like he made the right move 💯💥

All I don't get is why they didn't recorded the bass on the final takes on AJFA but how did the band treat him unfair besides that.

Jason was the new talent,he brang comacuasie to metallica, Robert is a professional,I don't anyone can faze him at this point his a mad thrasher no matter where he goes if you drop the ball he gets it started

Phil Towle was right on the money about Jason threatening quitting as more of a ploy to try and get the other members to open their eyes (as discussed in the Scuzz interview in 2013?) BUT another huge thing that Jason has debunked was that the hazing ended pretty early on. the only mistreatment Newsted was upset about was their management was shitty and that James shut down the label support on Echobrain. Jason acknowledges that neither he, nor the band/management were in a great place at the time. he saw how bad things were getting and as soon as he saw Phil Towle got hired on, he knew he was done.

I'm sorry but how are we STILL talking about some kind of monster and Newstedt's departure like it's relevant?!

If he didn't want to leave then why is it that HE LEFT THE FOCKING BAND?!

Royalty payments for life !! This guy hit the jackpot !!!

Jason leaving the band is like 747 crash landing, that band and that 747 will never be the same, Jason was perfect fit to that band, the band has gone on,,, but it's same the same and never will be, rock metal to the end, 🤛🤜👊

Jason was the Battery Trujillo is the Technician

Phil going broke and or need some more ugly sweaters? Jason has been truly open about this, numerous times. He has been on stage with Metallica several times since 2008. They’re all in a good place now with each other.

Normal Band stuff ya know, it becomes a family and families fight. Just part of things back then that they can't go back and change

He also couldn't do side projects like he wanted to do. James was real specific about that. Metallica stuff only. Was another reason why he left

Thanks for telling us what we knew 20 years ago

Both are awesome

Of course he didn't want to leave the rocking band, he left the therapy sessions.

Jason all the way. Rob is an amazing musician, but Metallica just looks right with Jason.

Jason’s popularity was and still is very strong among the fans, don’t think James was that found of that, although that benefited the band, guess their personal chemistry didn’t match Sad 😞

Phil Towle was a PERFORMANCE COACH! Not a therapist. He didn't have to abide by the same codes and ethics normal doctors follow. This is straight from the mouth of Joe Berlinger, the director of SKOM. I was at the movie premier for SKOM at Arclight Cinemas in Hollywood where he did a Q&A with the audience afterward. He said ANYONE who is a fan of Metallica owes Phil Towle a debt of gratitude because there would be no Metallica if it weren't for him. This is straight from the guy who was behind the camera the entire time. I take his words as gospel and you should also.

Come on, guys! After two decades you have to overcome Jason's parting from the band.

Jason AND Trujillo!!!!!

Not surprised here. Who wouldn’t want to quit arguably one of the most influential bands ever?

They treated him like shit, yet that guy broke his ass to make his way in that band. Wasn't his fault cliff tragically died, but he was your go too, I would have welcomed him with open arms cause wether they will ever admit it or not, he helped them get even bigger then they already were. They welcomed Robert with no BS?? So why did they have to do it with Jason. WRONG guys

Wasn’t this news 17 years ago?

What the music playing?

Nothing we haven't known since 2001

I first liked Metallica with Jason. I’m also not a big fan of the recent Metallica output although some of it is really good. So there you go.

Wonder how Rob feels bout replacing Jason? Wonder if he felr that way in the Beginning. I know now its a diff band . But back then.? ✌️

Newsted is my Metallica bassist.

I wish System of a Down would get a band therapist.

Like em both, different operating systems from each, there approach is different but both accomplished the task at hand. Neither compared to the OG. RIP

Well given that at the time it didn’t help that Metallica were having there issues inside the band there was the whole Napster suit lars was doing James was attending rehab and I guess Jason must have felt that his problems were not being addressed as much as the other guys I think obviously looking back had those issues been addressed a few years before he probably would still be in metallica but it obviously wasn’t meant to be which is a huge shame I have nothing against rob at all he’s a fantastic fit for the band but I think Jason will quests be the one and cliff who fans are the most familiar with

This stem way back with Dave Mustaine if they understood then I don't think Newsted would have left

Yea no shit. They treated him like shit the whole itme then when he tired to leave they just him then gaslight him by saying "hey man he quit"

Next up on rockfeed: "The sky is blue." ffs

Jason Jason! the best Metallica: James, Lars, Kirk, Jason.

Jason was made for Metallica. I still hope he becomes a member again. Rob technically is the better player I would say, but he doesn't add the same energy Jason brings in my opinion.

Jason left because James didn't want him to release the Echo Brain record, Hasn't this been common knowledge for almost 20 years?

Why can't people just leave Jason alone about Metallica? He's doing his own thing. It's time to let him move forward.

This guy met Jason once.

False the reason why Jason left was because Jason wanted to start a side project and discussed it with the band and James telling Jason that if he started a new band then he couldn’t be in Metallica anymore so Jason left.

i thought there's a therapist patient privilege

Uhm, we already knew that. Thanks Doc!

The boys were definitely hopping on his 455, sometimes even getting inside of it, tickling it, and that is OK 👽👍 Life can be or is.........Such A Joy!!! This comment happened after merging lines from the vid, a casual conversation happening outside and a line from a dirty movie!

This "news" is literally 20 years old, lol

Bruh why after I listen to Metallica after a long time I see this on my recommendations

james squashed jasons side project look it up

how many years was this ago? and we still talking about it. let it go move on jesus........................

Pure Conjecture, Jason already set the record straight on why he left. Yes there were issues going on, let the damn band members speak for themselves. Jeez.

Now that fieldy is taking a break from Korn, I wanna see rob take his place for a tour and meanwhile have Jason come back to Metallica for a tour. Then maybe he could write stuff with them or something in the future while rob is still the main bass player. I mean. We all love both of them, and I'd like to see him back for a little bit, but it's not like Metallica could ever just get rid of rob. I mean, they could, but rob is so killer, and he's been in the band longer than any other bass player now. Why would you get rid of one of the best bass players out there?