UPDATED: Newsted Pulls Out Of Soundwave

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and his eponymous band Newsted have announced they will no longer be coming to Australia for the Soundwave Festival, which begins in just a few days' time.

Newsted posted a very short, simple message on his Facebook page this afternoon, stating that the band would not be playing any shows in February or March this year.

“The NEWSTED Band will not be appearing or performing live in February or March 2014,” the comment said.

The cancellation is particularly interesting given the withdrawal of Megadeth from the Soundwave Festival and sideshows earlier this month after a disagreement stemming from Newsted's appearance on their sidewave dates.

It has not been a good few weeks as far as cancellations go, with Newsted joined by Sevendust, Stone Temple Pilots, Megadeth, Whitechapel, Desaparecidos and Hardcore Superstar on the list of bands who are no longer appearing.

UPDATE: It seems Newsted's cancellation is news to festival boss AJ Maddah, the promoter saying that the band's equipment is already in the country.

Trying to find Newsted and figure out what is going on. The band's equipment just arrived in Brisbane so not sure what's up.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) February 19, 2014

We'll report more details on Newsted's cancellation as they come to hand.