Jason Newsted Will 'Always Be A Part Of Metallica'

Jason Newsted has remarked in recent interviews that his departure from Metallica was a necessary shock to their system – that if he hadn't made said call, the band would be dead – and likely, some members, himself including.

“As time goes on, whether you mature or not, you certainly learn other things, and you have more experiences to make you become what you are. So a lot of the things that I'm able to go through now… it just reinforces every day how grateful I am to them, as band, and as people. How proud I am to have been a part of the greatest metal thing that's happened since Black Sabbath.

"All that stuff, no one can ever take that away from me. I'll always be a part of Metallica, so I feel good about that. I walk very proud of all those things that we did; we've taken it to a taller mountain than anyone else ever has, as far as our kind of music. I have nothing ever negative to say about Metallica; they gave me my chance to live a dream life, and I'll never forget it.”

It was during his inauguration into the Metallica ranks that he was introduced to Australian audiences. Despite a lengthy break from our shores, he's thrilled to return, revealing that his band Newsted will appear at Soundwave 2014.

“Dig up some interviews from then until now and when people ask me, 'What's your favourite place to play?' my answer is always the same answer: it's 'Australia's number one'. 'Cause we were one of the first American bands playing our style,to ever get a chance to go down there and break down the walls. It's got a very special place in my heart.”

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