Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted recently reflected on his career with the band and his controversial exit. He shared his perspective in an interview with Loudwire.
Newsted’s comments came in response to a question about the 40th anniversary of joining Metallica. He expressed a sense of victory despite the challenges he faced.
When asked “What goes through your head when you consider that this year marks the 40th anniversary of you joining Metallica?”, Newsted offered a candid response about his experience.
“Victory. This is a motherf*cker of a business, my friend, I think you’re pretty aware of that… I feel that I won this business. I feel I won,” Newsted said.
The bassist elaborated on his decision to leave the band. He framed it as a necessary choice that benefited everyone involved.
“You know, I figured it out. Might not have been very pleasant a lot of the time, and especially in transition time, but I won, and they won, and we all won, because I was brave enough to make a decision to save us all,” he continued.
Newsted concluded by addressing critics of his perspective on the situation.
“And no matter who argues with that, they’re not in our shoes. They don’t f*cking know. You could take things from a myth or a legend or whatever, it’s become rumor. I know the truth, and I know that’s what it comes down to,” he said.
Newsted’s recent reflections provide deeper insight into his 2001 departure from Metallica. The departure has been the subject of speculation for over two decades.
In recent interviews, Newsted has been more candid about the real reasons behind his exit from the metal giants. The PRP reported that the bassist revealed his departure was primarily driven by personal struggles rather than creative differences or band politics.
“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,” Newsted stated in a 2026 interview.
Many fans and media outlets had long speculated that his exit was related to conflicts over his side projects. However, Ultimate Guitar noted that Newsted clarified this misconception. He acknowledged having multiple creative outlets at the time, noting “I had had forty projects… This one was just more promising, and I took it to a different place. But that’s not the reason I left Metallica.”
Following his departure from Metallica, Newsted continued his musical journey through various projects including Echobrain, Voivod, and his own Newsted project. He also pursued visual art and other creative endeavors. His recent interviews demonstrate a more reflective and mature perspective on his time with the band. This represents a shift away from the anger and frustration that characterized his early post-Metallica years.
