Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted recently discussed his ongoing musical endeavors, upcoming tour plans, and the possibility of releasing new heavy metal music. During a comprehensive interview with host Mark Strigl on SiriusXM‘s “Ozzy’s Boneyard” on May 26, the musician confirmed that he has a wealth of unreleased material from his eponymous heavy metal project, Newsted.
When asked if he would consider releasing a traditional, straight-ahead metal album again, Jason Newsted offered a definitive update on the status of his heavy project.
“I never say never on any of that. There’s already a complete second Newsted album composed,” he responded.
The Newsted project initially gained significant traction with the release of the Metal EP and the subsequent full-length album, Heavy Metal Music. Despite positive reception from critics and fans, Jason Newsted canceled the band’s appearance at Australia’s Soundwave festival in February 2014, citing private circumstances following a year of intense touring. He later explained that he shelved the project due to the extreme financial burden, stating it cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain. He elaborated: “I couldn’t continue because the business is such a harsh thing now and so different than what I had known.”
The heavy metal outfit remained dormant until May 2023, when Jason Newsted reactivated the group for a concert at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At that performance, the bassist and vocalist was joined by original Newsted members Jesus Mendez Jr. (Underlord) and Jessie Farnsworth (Underlord), along with new guitarist Humberto Perez.
While the second Newsted album remains unreleased, Jason Newsted is currently preparing for an extensive summer tour with his long-running Americana group, Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band. Since 1992, the collective has performed periodically, primarily supporting charitable causes such as veterans’ relief, animal rehabilitation, and youth arts programs.
The 2026 iteration of The Chophouse Band features Jason Newsted leading a lineup that includes guitarists Jesse Farnsworth and Humberto Perez, bassist Jimbo Hart, and drummer Robert John-Tucker. The group plays a gritty mix of outsider Americana that incorporates elements of bluegrass, folk, soul, rock, and heavy metal.
The band’s upcoming 18-date summer run kicks off on July 1 at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts. The itinerary includes eight headlining shows across the South, Midwest, and East Coast, alongside 10 dates serving as the supporting act for country-rock group Blackberry Smoke. The tour will conclude with a two-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 24 and 25.
During the SiriusXM interview, Jason Newsted also reflected on his extensive career, discussing his thoughts on how heavy metal fits into the broader scope of American music. He shared stories involving Mike Mushok of Staind and Jim Martin of Faith No More, and reminisced about the recording processes behind Metallica‘s The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited (1987) and Load (1996).
After departing Metallica in 2001, Jason Newsted secured his place in music history when he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009. He received the honor alongside his former bandmates Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, and Kirk Hammett, as well as the bassist who succeeded him, Robert Trujillo.
Earlier this month, during the same interview with Dean Delray on “Let There Be Talk” podcast where he disclosed his private 2025 battle with throat cancer, Jason opened up about his intense substance abuse issues and the real reason he left Metallica.
Addressing the long-standing rumor that he quit specifically because the band rejected his side project Echobrain, Newsted offered the following explanation:
“One thing I want to straighten out, or just comment on.. the Echobrain thing. That was another project that I took to a certain level. I had had 40 projects in the Chophouse to a level of recording, composition, rehearsal, that kind of thing. This one was just more promising, and I took it to a different place. But it’s not the reason I left Metallica.”
He continued: “The reason I left Metallica is because I was a horrible addict. I was way up against myself, and if I didn’t get some kind of help, I was going to die. And so I just said, ‘You guys, can I have a minute? Please give me a minute.’ And they said, ‘No.’ I said, ‘I would rather live than be in your band. I love being in your band. I think it’s kind of obvious. I wear your shirt every f**king night.’ So it’s like, you know, ‘I wear our shirt every night. I fly my colors every night. I meet every f**king person that wants to meet and represent us for all the fans every f**king night. Don’t tell me I’m not committed. Don’t tell me I’m not loyal. Don’t tell me. I’m always the first one in and last one out. I’m not saying the words. It’s f**king history.’ It’s real.”
“You can’t give me that minute to get my head straight again. Then I have to go. Not that I don’t love you, and certainly not that I’m not committed to this band.”
Continuing on the topic, he further downplayed the idea that the Echobrain pushback was the ultimate dealbreaker, emphasizing that taking a step back to heal was his absolute priority.
“Echobrain was a thing that I ventured into, our subject for the day, our theme for the day: Adventuring, discovering new things. Giving yourself a chance to see what’s in there. When you do a painting, step back from it and go, ‘I didn’t know that I had that in me.’ You know? That’s the best reward of all, no matter if somebody buys it or not, I don’t give a s**t. It’s about, the song comes out and I’m like, ‘Dude I have that in me? Where the f**k did that come from?’ That’s the riches.”
“So, if you can’t give me a minute to get myself to what I thought you appreciated me for, then [I’m gone.] But it’s not because of Echobrain. It’s just that’s the music that was happening at the time.”
