JASON NEWSTED On Leaving METALLICA: 'It Took 10 Years For Me To Decompress'

Tony Hicks of the Contra Costa Times recently conducted an interview with bassist Jason Newsted's (VOIVOD, METALLICA, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM) about Jason's first exhibition of original art, which is being held until June 27, 2010 at Micaëla Gallery (49 Geary Street, No. 234) in San Francisco, California. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On his paintings:

"It became dogma — a painting style out of necessity. It's what I'm supposed to do. The most powerful reason I do it is that I step back from the canvas and say, 'I had no idea that was in me.' Some of the first ones were the best. It was just childlike wonder."

"A white canvas is silence. I always played loud — (my) art is loud. It's a direct transfer. I was always a team player. Now I'm the field goal kicker. I get the glory or I get the (blame)."

On leaving METALLICA:

"It took 10 years for me to decompress and come back down to the ground from all that. You have to have a purpose. That's why people get (messed) up on drugs and alcohol. Because they don't have a purpose."

On receiving a message last week from former AC/DC and THE FIRM drummer Chris Slade, who texted he was "looking for (Jimmy) Page and Newsted":

"Jimmy Page and Chris Slade. What time do you want me there? When you get called by your first name by guys whose posters you used to have on the wall — and still do, as my dad has kept my old room the way it was with the posters of LED ZEPPELIN, and AEROSMITH and AC/DC — surreal is the word for it."

On his potential first buyer — the same connoisseur who once set a record for fetching the biggest price for a Basquiat"

"Lars [Ulrich; METALLICA drummer] will buy one."

On being "flabbergasted" by the METALLICA drummer's appearance at Newsted's art opening:

"That was a big feather in the cap. I actually want to do a piece for them. I have to go over and check out their house again and see what I can do"

Read more at this location.

Newsted joined METALLICA in 1986, successfully toured the globe as METALLICA's bass guitarist through 2001, and achieved worldwide recognition. He recorded multiple albums that won six Grammy awards, sold 100 million units, and earned his 2009 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Newsted turned his attention to painting, where he found solace and a new manner for expressing his creativity. His experience with painting is a joy to behold, filled with wonderment and the uninhibited freedom of a mature creative soul.

Newsted's paintings express raw visual energy. He uses rich color and an expressive manner to translate his characteristic intensity into hard-hitting paintings.

You can check out some of Newsted's paintings at this location.

Dunlop TV recently conducted an interview with Newsted about his bass gear and his interest in painting, having turned out hundreds of large original works of art over the last half a decade. Watch the eight-minute chat below.