Why Ex-METALLICA Bassist JASON NEWSTED Postponed Plans To Write A Memoir

In a brand new interview with For Bass Players Online, former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted was asked if he has considered writing an autobiography. He responded: "As the NEWSTED thing was winding down, I had a book offer. I was just about in; they wanted to send money for the advance, and I had a few conversations with publishers about choosing a [co-]writer and everything. It just didn't work out, though. I realized I didn't want to do it right now. Maybe someday. I'm hoping I can build some more stories with this and then write [the book] some time along the way when I settle down. I still want to do this [music] while the skills are intact, while the functions are intact and everything is cool. I want to make sure that's the way it's gonna go and not get sidetracked from that just yet."

Newsted also talked about his latest endeavor — a pair of acoustic groups, including the CHOPHOUSE BAND (named after his four recording studio facilities around the U.S. and featuring a fluid roster of players).

"It's kind of a deep thing," he said. "My mom started getting sick, and everything else took a back seat. I could've had another NEWSTED record on its way, but it wasn't in the cards this time around. Once something with mom takes place, everything else come after that. We lost her the last day of March, and I spent a lot of time with her these last couple of years, and she liked a lot of these songs and this music. I would play it for her, and I started to collect these songs, and it was an important thing, coming down from that heavy music for a second and getting to take a breath again. And I saw a couple documentaries about American music and old roots music, and everything combined really started to inspire me. I think I was pretty open-hearted and open-minded and seeing things from a different perspective. And spending so much time with my mom really reminded me of how valuable things are and sent me down that path."

In addition to Jason, NEWSTED's lineup included Mike Mushok (STAIND) on guitar, Jesus Mendez Jr. (THE NAPOLEON BLOWNAPARTS) on drums and Jessie Farnsworth on guitar.

Jason in February 2014 canceled an appearance at Australia's Soundwave festival with NEWSTED, citing "private and personal circumstances." The cancelation followed more than a year of intense touring and promotional activity surrounding the release of NEWSTED's "Metal" EP and follow-up album, "Heavy Metal Music", both of which were positively received by the critics and fans alike.

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001 but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.