Metallica’s Reaction to Newsted’s Heavy Metal Music

What was Metallica’s reaction to Jason Newsted’s new band, Echobrain, and their debut album, Heavy?

Introduction

When Jason Newsted joined Metallica in 1986, he brought with him a love of metal that bordered on the religious. Newsted had been a fan of the genre since he was 12 years old, and he was eager to share his passion with the members of Metallica. Unfortunately, not everyone in the band felt the same way about metal. In fact, some of the members were downright dismissive of Newsted’s interests.

Leader James Hetfield was the most vocal opponent of metal, calling it “ugly” and ” Satanic.” Guitarist Kirk Hammett agreed, stating that he didn’t see the appeal of “screaming vocals and guitars that sound like they’re melting.” Newsted persisted, however, and eventually won over his bandmates with his enthusiasm and knowledge of the genre.

By the time Metallica released their fourth album, …And Justice for All, they had fully embraced their heavy metal roots. The album featured long tracks with complex arrangements, and it cemented Metallica’s place as one of the leading bands in metal. Today, Newsted is considered one of the key figures in popularizing heavy metal music.

Metallica’s Early Years

Before they were the legends they are today, Metallica was just a group of guys who loved metal and loved playing together. They were all about speed and heavy riffs, and they quickly gained a following in the underground metal scene. When Jason Newsted joined the band, they took their sound to a whole new level.

The formation of Metallica

In late 1981, Lars Ulrich placed an ad in a Los Angeles newspaper seeking musicians to form a heavy metal band. He was answered by James Hetfield, who met Ulrich at his house in Fairfax, Virginia. Although Hetfield was initially at first hesitant about Ulrich’s recruitment drive, the two quickly became friends and bonded over their shared passion for music. They decided to form a band with the guitarist Dave Mustaine, who had recently been fired from California metal band Panic. In early 1982, Metallica recorded its first original song “Hit the Lights” for the Metal Massacre I compilation album. Hetfield recruited his friend Kirk Hammett from Exodus to replace Mustaine; Hammett was chosen because he was knew how to play “Fade to Black”.

The ‘Big Four’ of Thrash Metal

The Big Four of Thrash Metal are Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. These four bands were the most influential and successful thrash metal bands of the 1980s. They were responsible for popularizing the genre and defining its sound.

Metallica was the most successful of the Big Four, selling millions of records and headlining arena tours around the world. The band’s popularity increased in the early 1990s with their self-titled album, commonly known as The Black Album. This album featured a more radio-friendly sound that alienated some of their die-hard fans.

Slayer was the heaviest and most brutal of the Big Four. The band’s music was characterized by fast tempos, high-pitched guitars, and aggressive lyrics. Slayer’s popularity peaked in the early 1990s with their albums Seasons in the Abyss and Divine Intervention.

Megadeth was founded by Dave Mustaine after he was kicked out of Metallica. Megadeth’s music was similar to Metallica’s early work, but with a more complex and technical approach. The band released a string of successful albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? and Countdown to Extinction.

Anthrax was the only band of the Big Four to have a female member (bassist Frank Bello). Anthrax’s music was similar to that of their fellow New Yorkers in Metallica, but with a more humorous approach. The band had their biggest success in 1991 with their album Persistence of Time, which features the song “I’m the Man.”

Newsted’s Time With Metallica

Newsted joins Metallica

Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has revealed that the band didn’t approve of his heavy metal side project, saying they thought it was “a joke.”

Newsted, who left Metallica in 2001, formed the band Echobrain in 2002 with drummer Lars Ulrich’s nephew Joel. The group released one album, 2002’s self-titled debut, before going on hiatus.

In a new interview with Music Radar, Newsted looked back on his time in Echobrain and said that Metallica didn’t approve of his new band.

“I don’t think they ever took Echobrain seriously,” Newsted said. “I think they thought it was a joke. And that’s fine.”

Newsted added that he “never talked” to Ulrich about his side project, but said that he didn’t need the drummer’s approval.

“I never talked to Lars about it,” Newsted said. “I don’t think I needed his approval – I was a bass player in his band! But yeah, I don’t think they ever took it seriously.”

Newsted’s contributions to Metallica

Newsted’s time with Metallica was marked by a stream of groundbreaking albums and an unending series of sold-out tours. He contributed to some of the band’s most essential songs, including “Enter Sandman,” “Sad but True,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” He also co-wrote several tracks on Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album, commonly known as “The Black Album.” Newsted’s tenure with Metallica ended in 2001, but his contribution to the band’s legacy is undeniable.

The Reunion of the ‘Big Four’

The ‘Big Four’ reunited

In 2010, the “Big Four” of thrash metal finally reunited for a series of live shows. The “Big Four” refers to Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax, who were all extremely popular in the 1980s and are often credited with defining the thrash metal genre. This reunion was highly anticipated by fans of all four bands, and it did not disappoint.

The first show took place in Poland on June 16, 2010, and was followed by two more shows in the United States on April 23 and 24, 2011. These shows were some of the most successful metal concerts ever, with over 60,000 people attending each one. The reunion was a huge success both financially and artistically, with all four bands giving amazing performances.

The success of the reunion led to rumors that the “Big Four” might record an album together, but unfortunately that has not yet come to fruition. However, the live shows were released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2011, so fans can relive the magical moment when four of the greatest thrash metal bands in history came together once again.

Newsted’s reaction to the reunion

Jason Newsted was a fan of the heavy metal band Metallica long before he joined the group in 1986. So, when he found out that the band was planning to reunite with its original bassist, Cliff Burton, for a one-off performance at the 2012 Orion Music + More Festival, he was excited.

“I was like ‘Oh my God, this is so cool,'” Newsted recalls. “I actually got chills up my spine.”

The three-song set marked the first time that Newsted had shared a stage with his former bandmates in more than 15 years, and it was an emotional moment for all involved.

“It felt really good,” Newsted says of the reunion. “There’s been a lot of water under the bridge.”

Looking back on that momentous occasion, Newsted says he is proud to have been a part of it and is grateful to have had the chance to reconnect with his former bandmates.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that Metallica’s reaction to Jason Newsted’s heavy metal music was largely negative. While some members of the band did enjoy some of his songs, they ultimately felt that his style was too different from their own. This led to a great deal of tension within the group, and eventually resulted in Newsted leaving the band.