To be someone's replacement can never be easy. To always be ware of the constant comparison being made between you and the person whom you have replaced. This was what Jason Newsted had to expect when he was asked in 1986 to replace Cliff Burton.

Jason Newsted is the only Non-Californian member of Metallica- He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1963. After being inspired by Kiss's frontman and bassist Gene Simmons, Jason got his first bass at the age of 13. He fooled around wirh it for about 2 months before he got fed up with it and put away.

Five years later Jason took out his bass again after getting in touch with Black Sabbath and Rush. He then joined a band of older guys. After a while they decided to seek their fortunes in California. Jason quit school, breaking his parent's hearts, to go with them, but they only got as far as Arizona. The other guys went back home, but Jason stayed.

He met drummer Kelly Smith, and the pair formed "Flotsam & Jetsam". The band played around local clubs and did some concerts. After a few years they recorded an album called "Doomsday For The Deciever".

At this time James, Kirk and Lars had decided that they would keep on playing after Cliff's death, and were back in California looking for a new bassist. Jason was one of the few bass players recommended to them, and the band asked him to "audition" i.e. to spend a day with Metallica, jam a bit, eat and drink a little. Eventually they ended up in a restaurant called "Tommy's Joint" in S.F. About 2 am, Jason was casually asked to join the band. The thrilled Jason screamed at the top of his lung in response.

Jason is a serious type of person who really puts his mind into everything that he is doing. Like James and Lars he follows a few sports teams such as Chicago Bulls and L.A. Raiders. Just like Kirk he gets his exercise from mountainbiking. Jason also writes music for other bands, his latest side-project is a song on Jim Martin's CD "Milk and Blood".

The issue of being compared with Cliff Burton will always be there, but Jason does not seem to mind. He never tried to imitate Cliff or gave way for how other people thought he should play. Instead Jason simply kept his style and his own heavy way of playing the bass, though influenced by Cliff as well as the bassists in bands like Kiss, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.


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