Jason Newsted

Infobox musical artist
Name =Jason Newsted


Img_capt =
Background =solo_singer
Birth_name =Jason Curtis Newsted
Alias =Jasonic
Born =birth date and age|1963|3|4|mf=y
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Died =
Instrument =Bass, Vocals, Guitar, drums
Voice_type =
Genre =Heavy metal, thrash metal, hard rock, alternative rock
Occupation =Musician, Songwriter
Years_active =1982 - on hiatus as of 2006
Label =Metal Blade, Elektra, Chophouse, The End, Surfdog, Epic
Associated_acts =Metallica, Flotsam and Jetsam, Papa Wheelie, Voivod, Echobrain, Rock Star Supernova, Ozzy Osbourne
URL = [http://www.chophouserecords.com/ www.chophouserecords.com]
Notable_instruments =

Jason Curtis Newsted (born March 4, 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan) is an American bassist best known as the former bassist of Metallica. He was also a member of Voivod after leaving Metallica. Newsted went by the pseudonym Jasonic, which served as both his alias in Voivod and the name of his music publishing company. He is also the founder of the Chophouse Records studio and label based in California.

Career

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.

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 30 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, although both Ulrich and Hetfield claim they were also disappointed with the production of the album. In addition, they claim that most/all of Newsted's bass lines closely followed the rhythm guitar melodies to the point of being indiscernable from each other. 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 1998 Jason contributed to the album Psyence Fiction by the UK dance outift UNKLE.

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. [Korn, Mike [http://www.musicstreetjournal.com/voivodint.htm Interview Voi Vod's Jason Newsted] "Music Street Journal" (2003). Retrieved March 9, 2007.] The fact that Newsted began to focus his efforts on a side project created tension within Metallica.

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." cite web
title=Bassist Jason Newsted Leaves Metallica
author=Basham, David
publisher=MTV.com
date=2001-01-17
url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1438016/20010117/metallica.jhtml
accessdate=2007-12-03] 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." 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?"cite web
title=The Playboy Interview – Metallica
publisher="Playboy"
url=http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/features/metallica/05.html
accessdate=2007-12-03] .

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. [ [http://www.theendrecords.com/label//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=38 http://www.theendrecords.com - Voivod (Canada) ] ] 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.

Ozzy Osbourne Band

Newsted joined Canadian thrash metal band Voivod in 2002. Coincidentally, he was also Robert Trujillo's (Trujillo being Newsted's replacement in Metallica) 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. [Downey, Ryan J. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470623/20030318/osbourne_ozzy.jhtml "Ozzy, Newsted Lovin' Each Other"] MTV.com (March 18, 2003). Retrieved March 9, 2008.] cite web
title=Metallica timeline January 3, 2002 – March 19, 2003
publisher=MTV.com
url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/icon/metallica/timeline/?id=22
accessdate=2007-12-05] He would soon be replaced by Rob Zombie bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson. [Downey, Ryan J. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480941/20031204/osbourne_ozzy.jhtml?headlines=true "Jason Newsted Leaves Ozzy Osbourne, Is Replaced By Rob Zombie Bassist"] MTV.com (December 4, 2003). Retriever March 9, 2008.]

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, "", in 2006.

Rock Star 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.

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.

Equipment

Bass guitars

* Sadowsky - Black Vintage with Ash body
* Sadowsky - Black Vintage (x2)
* Sadowsky - PJ - Cherry Sunburst and Caramel Sunburst
* Sadowsky - Vintage - Lake Placid Blue (4 string and 5 strings)
* Sadowsky - Vintage - Cherry Sunburst
* Sadowsky - Black Vintage - 24 Fret (x2)
* Alembic - Elan - Black (5 strings)
* Alembic - Europa - Black (4, 5 and 6 strings)
* Alembic - Spoiler - Black (4 strings) (x2)
* Alembic - Spoiler - Natural colored
* ESP Bass - Red
* ESP B-1 - Black
* Stuart Spector Designs (4, 5 and 6 strings)
* Guild acoustic bass
* wal PRO II - Black w. Gold hardware

Effects

* Boss Flanger BF-2
* MXR Phase 100
* Mu-Tron III Bass Pedal
* Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
* Korg G-5 Bass Synth Processor
* Electro Harmonix Big Muff
* Alesis Mediverb II
* BBE Sonic Maximizer
* Morley Power Wah Boost

Amplifiers

* Mesa/Boogie 1x15 combo
* Mesa/Boogie with SWR Heads
* Gibson Skylark Guitar amp
* Fender Folded Horn 1x18
* Ampeg 1974 SVT head
* Ampeg SVT cabinets
* Ampeg SVT III (x4)
* Ampeg SVT Vintage
* Ampeg SVT 8"x10" pro speaker cabinets
* Ampeg ISO Vent 10"x15" speaker cabinets
* Ampeg B-15 combo amp

Discography

Echobrain

*"Echobrain" (2002)
*"Glean" (2004) (Newsted did not perform on this album, but he is listed as an Executive Producer)

=Flotsam and Jetsam=

*"Doomsday for the Deceiver" (1986)

Gov't Mule

*"The Deep End, Volume 2" (2002)

IR8/Sexoturica

*"IR8 vs. Sexoturica" (2002)

Metallica

*"Garage Days Re-Revisited" (1987)
*"…And Justice for All" (1988)
*"Metallica" (1991)
*"" (1993)
*"Load" (1996)
*"Reload" (1997)
*"Garage Inc." (1998)
*"S&M" (1999)

Moss Brothers

*"Electricitation" (2001)

Papa Wheelie

*" [http://www.chophouserecords.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16156&cat=270&page=1 Unipsycho] " (2002)
*" [http://www.chophouserecords.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16157&cat=270&page=1 Live Lycanthropy] " (2003)

Rock Star Supernova

*"Rock Star Supernova" (2006)

Sepultura

*"Against" (1998) (featuring artist)

=Voivod=

*"Voivod" (2003)
*"Katorz" (2006)

DVD & Video

*Metallica
**1989 "2 of One"
**1992 "A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica"
**1993 ""
**1998 "Cunning Stunts"
**1999 "S&M"
**2001 ""
**2004 "Some Kind Of Monster"
**2006 "The Videos 1989-2004"

*Gov't Mule
**2003 "The Deepest End, Live In Concert"

References

External links

* [http://www.chophouserecords.com/ Jason Newsted Official Site]
* [http://rockstar.msn.com/news/supernovapr CBS's "Rock Star" to Select Lead Singer for New Band]
* [http://www.myspace.com/pwheelie Papa Wheelie's MySpace page]
* [http://www.hardradio.com/shockwaves/newsted1.php3 HardRadio.com interview Newsted on Ozzy and Voivod]