During an appearance on Dean Delray‘s “Let There Be Talk” podcast, Jason Newsted opened up about his 2001 departure from Metallica. The bassist says he left the group due to addiction issues.
Newsted said the following about rumors claiming his exit was related to Echobrain:
“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.
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 fucking night.’ So it’s like, you know, ‘I wear our shirt every night. I fly my colors every night. I meet every fucking person that wants to meet and represent us for all the fans every fucking 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 fucking 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.”
He also added:
“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 shit. It’s about, the song comes out and I’m like, ‘Dude I have that in me? Where the fuck 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.”
[via The PRP]
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