Jason Newsted
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| Jason Newsted | |
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 Newsted at Monsters of Rock, 1991, in Moscow
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jason Curtis Newsted |
| Also known as | Jasonic |
| Born | March 4, 1963 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal, thrash metal, hard rock, alternative rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Bass, Vocals, Guitar, Drums |
| Years active | 1982-Present |
| Label(s) | Metal Blade, Elektra, Chophouse, The End, Surfdog, Epic |
| Associated acts | Metallica, Flotsam and Jetsam, Papa Wheelie, Voivod, Echobrain, Rock Star Supernova, Ozzy Osbourne |
| Website | Chophouserecords.com |
Jason Newsted (born March 4, 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan) is an American bassist best known as the former bassist of Metallica. Currently he is a member of Voivod and Rock Star Supernova. Newsted also goes by the pseudonym Jasonic, which serves as both his alias in Voivod and the name of his music publishing company. He is also founder of the Chophouse Records studio and label based in California.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Flotsam & Jetsam
The early part of Newsted's music career had him performing bass for Flotsam and Jetsam and their 1986 album Doomsday for the Deceiver. Newsted wrote the majority of lyrics for the album as well.
[edit] Joining Metallica
Following the death of Cliff Burton in September 1986, Metallica began a search for a new bassist. Newsted auditioned for the part along with roughly 40 other musicians, and in winning the role, his first live performance with Metallica was at the Country Club in Reseda, California. However, initiation into the grieving band did not come easy, as Newsted was often subject to pranks and ridicule which increased as time went on. He debuted on the group's fourth studio album, ...And Justice For All, which was subject to controversy and criticism for its poor production - namely its lack of identifiable bass. Newsted claims this was further hazing on the part of Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield. The album nevertheless reached No. 6 on the Billboard Charts and projected the group to higher success.
In 1991, Metallica released their self-titled album, better known as The Black Album, which would launch Metallica into their greatest level of stardom. After much touring, the group took a long-needed vacation and, when they returned, surprised fans with a new sound in 1996's Load. This was followed by ReLoad, Garage Inc., S&M, and the popular single, "I Disappear."
In 2000, Newsted co-founded a side project known as Echobrain. They entered a studio in May to rerecord their demos with help from several musicians including Newsted's then-colleague and Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett, and former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin. The project was funded by Newsted which he later claimed he lost a great deal of money in.[1] The fact that Newsted began to focus his efforts on a side project created tension within Metallica.
[edit] Departure from Metallica
As plans were being made to enter the recording studio, Newsted left Metallica on January 17, 2001. His statement revealed his departure was based on "private and personal reasons and the physical damage I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love."[2] During a Playboy interview with Metallica, Newsted revealed intentions he wanted to release an album with Echobrain. Hetfield was against the idea and said, "When someone does a side project, it takes away from the strength of Metallica."[3] Newsted countered his statement by citing Hetfield's contributions to other musical outlets. Hetfield replied, "My name isn't on those records. And I'm not out trying to sell them," and pondered questions such as, "Where would it end? Does he start touring with it? Does he sell shirts? Is it his band?"[3]
In April 2001, filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began following Metallica to document the recording process of their next studio album. During this time, Hetfield entered rehab due to "alcoholism and other addictions and wondering why he was writing mean songs and soon he made St. Anger which involved a different and new generation Metallica." All recording plans were put on hiatus and the band's future was in doubt.[4] The footage was compiled into the documentary, Some Kind of Monster, which premiered at the Sundance film festival. In the documentary, Newsted described his former bandmates' decision to hire a therapist to help solve their problems as "really fucking lame and weak."[5] Metallica eventually held auditions for Newsted's permanent replacement in early 2003, after St. Anger's completion. Following three months of auditions, Robert Trujillo, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies and Ozzy Osbourne's band, was chosen as the new bassist.[5]
[edit] Voivod
The last incarnation of Voivod featured three of the four founding members: Denis Bélanger (aka Snake, vocals), Denis D'Amour (Piggy, guitars), and Michel Langevin (Away, drums) along with Jason Newsted (Jasonic) on bass guitar. Guitarist Denis D'Amour died at the age of 45 on August 26, 2005 due to complications from colon cancer.[6] Their most recent record is Katorz (which is an "alternative" way of writing "quatorze", fourteen in French), released in July 2006. The album is based around riffs found on the laptop of guitarist Denis D'Amour. Just prior to his death, he left instructions for his fellow bandmates on how to use them.
[edit] Ozzy Osbourne Band
As Metallica moved on, Newsted joined Canadian thrash metal band Voivod in 2002. Ironically, he was also Trujillo's replacement in Osbourne's band during Ozzfest 2003, which included Voivod as a Second Stage act. During an MTV interview, both Osbourne and Newsted showed extreme enthusiasm in writing a new album together, with Osbourne comparing Newsted to "a young Geezer Butler." However, this would not come to fruition as Newsted left Osbourne upon finishing tour duties in late 2003.[7][8] He would soon be replaced by Rob Zombie bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson.[9]
Newsted then focused solely on Voivod where, much like Echobrain, the group was funded entirely through him. They recorded two albums before Newsted's participation in Rock Star Supernova, a supergroup created through the reality television series, Rock Star: Supernova, in 2006.
[edit] Rockstar Supernova
Supernova formed the basis of the second season of the Rock Star television program on CBS in the quest to find a lead singer. The show began online on the Rock Star web site on MSN on Monday, July 3 with an Internet exclusive weekly episode and premiered on CBS on July 5, 2006. Votes were cast via the Rock Star website. On September 13, 2006, Lukas Rossi was crowned the winner.
[edit] Accident & Injury
On October 23, 2006, Jason Newsted was injured while attempting to catch a falling bass amp head. The accident resulted in a torn anterior labrum in his left shoulder and a rotator cuff and biceps tear in the right. He was scheduled for immediate surgery, and underwent a lengthy rehab process. Jason has been out of the public eye ever since.
Voivod has confirmed they will be playing at the Heavy MTL show the 22nd of june 2008. Voivod also confirmed that they will be playing at the Monsters of Rock Festival in Calgary, Canada on July 26, 2008. The Band will consist of Bélanger, Langevin, Blackie and Dan Mongrain on Guitar. Jason Newsted is still a member of the band but is unable to perform at both gigs.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Echobrain
- Echobrain (2002)
- Glean (2004) Jason did not perform on this album. He is listed as Executive Producer
[edit] Flotsam and Jetsam
- Doomsday for the Deceiver (1986)
[edit] Gov't Mule
- The Deep End, Volume 2 (2002)
[edit] IR8/Sexoturica
- IR8 vs. Sexoturica (2002)
[edit] Metallica
- Garage Days Re-Revisited (1987)
- ...And Justice for All (1988)
- Metallica (1991)
- Live Shit: Binge & Purge (1993)
- Load (1996)
- Reload (1997)
- Garage Inc. (1998)
- S&M (1999)
[edit] Moss Brothers
- Electricitation (2001)
[edit] Papa Wheelie
- Unipsycho (2002)
- Live Lycanthropy (2003)
[edit] Rock Star Supernova
- Rock Star Supernova (2006)
[edit] Sepultura
- Against (1998) (featuring artist)
[edit] Voivod
[edit] DVD & Video
- Metallica
- 1989 2 of One
- 1992 A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
- 1993 Live Shit: Binge & Purge
- 1998 Cunning Stunts
- 1999 S&M
- 2001 Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album
- 2004 Some Kind Of Monster
- 2006 The Videos 1989-2004
[edit] References
- ^ Korn, Mike Interview Voi Vod's Jason Newsted Music Street Journal (2003). Retrieved March 9, 2007.
- ^ Basham, David (2001-01-17). Bassist Jason Newsted Leaves Metallica. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
- ^ a b The Playboy Interview – Metallica. Playboy. Retrieved on 2007-12-03.
- ^ Metallica timeline April, 2001 – December 4, 2001. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ a b Some Kind of Monster feature film, Metallica, January 2004, Paramount Pictures
- ^ http://www.theendrecords.com - Voivod (Canada)
- ^ Downey, Ryan J. Ozzy, Newsted Lovin' Each Other MTV.com (March 18, 2003). Retrieved March 9, 2008.
- ^ Metallica timeline January 3, 2002 – March 19, 2003. MTV.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
- ^ Downey, Ryan J. Jason Newsted Leaves Ozzy Osbourne, Is Replaced By Rob Zombie Bassist MTV.com (December 4, 2003). Retriever March 9, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Jason Newsted Official Site
- CBS's "Rock Star" to Select Lead Singer for New Band
- Papa Wheelie's MySpace page
- HardRadio.com interview Newsted on Ozzy and Voivod
| Preceded by Cliff Burton |
Metallica Bassist 1986-2001 |
Succeeded by Bob Rock |
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