Jason Newsted on Metallica Exit: "I Was Going To Die"

Jason Newsted insists in a new interview that the real reason he left Metallica roughly 25 years ago is because had he stayed in the world’s biggest metal band, he would’ve died.

The bassist told the Let There Be Talk podcast hosted by Dean Delray, “The reason I left Metallica is because I was a horrible addict. I was way up against myself and if I didn’t get some kind of help, I was going to die.”

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He added, “And so I just said, ‘You guys, can I have a minute? Please give me a minute.’ And they said, ‘No.’”

This revelation expands on the previously stated reasons for his leaving given over the years, such as feeling like he never belonged or being creatively stifled by the pressures of James Hetfield at the time, who reportedly demanded he cease work on his Echobrain project because it might steal away from Metallica.

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Newsted addressed those comments over the years in the same interview, saying, “One thing I want to straighten out, or just comment on, is the Echobrain thing. That was another project that I took to a certain level. I had 40 projects in the chophouse to a level of recording, composition, rehearsal, that kind of thing. This one was just more promising, and I took it to a different place. But it’s not the reason I left Metallica.”

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The veteran musician also elaborated on his struggle with addiction, saying, “I said, ‘I would rather live than be in your band. I love being in your band. I think it’s kind of obvious. I wear your shirt every fucking night.’ So it’s like, you know, ‘I wear our shirt every night. I fly my colors every night. I meet every fucking person that wants to meet and represent us for all the fans every fucking night. Don’t tell me I’m not committed. Don’t tell me I’m not loyal. Don’t tell me. I’m always the first one in and last one out. I’m not saying the words. It’s fucking history.’ You can’t give me that minute to get my head straight again. Then I have to go. Not that I don’t love you, and certainly not that I’m not committed to this band.”

As previously reported, in the same interview, Newsted revealed his recent battle with throat cancer , saying he was diagnosed last year but recently was declared cancer-free.

The bassist recently announced a tour with his group Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band. They will be playing headlining shows and dates supporting Blackberry Smoke, with tickets available here .

Check out Jason Newsted’s appearance on Dean Delray’s Let There Be Talk podcast below.

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_Originally reported by [Consequence](https://consequence.net/2026/05/jason-newsted-leaving-metallica-i-was-going-to-die/)._