Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has revealed that he recently battled throat cancer, but thankfully it was caught early and as of a few weeks ago he’s cancer-free.
Newsted disclosed the news in an interview with comedian-musician Dean Delray’s Let There Be Talk podcast. The bassist explained why he wasn’t able to make it to Delray’s Bon Scott/AC/DC tribute show in February.
“If I could have been there, I would’ve been there,” began Newsted (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “And so I will talk about this a little bit. I decided that this week, as I’m beginning to roll out the promotion for the shows and stuff and let everybody know I’m gonna be back around, and you already know it — you’re, probably, in the 24 people that I told.”
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He added, “So, let’s see — in one week, it’s gonna be a year. So one week from today, it’ll be a year. May 8th of 2025, I underwent a procedure for throat cancer. And so they took a bunch of shit outta here and then they went in with lasers this way and took a bunch of shit out. So the cavern inside my head is different than it was, but we got it early. And I got my ‘free and clear’ about three weeks ago. So I beat it.”
Newsted continued: “I promised myself I was going to rest, and that was the first time I’ve done that in my life. I’m usually just on or off. And so I promised myself I was gonna take the gravity off and lay down for the right amount of hours. And there’s no way, with my arrogant, spoiled ass that I would’ve stopped smoking weed, that I would’ve stopped drinking, that I would’ve stopped doing all the things. But the great spirit got my attention and said, ‘That’s not good right now, man.’ And so it pulled me off it. And so now I’m more clear-headed than I’ve been in my entire adult life. And so there’s blessings within everything. The lemonade I’m making this summer, bro — mm. Sweet. Ooh.”
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.
Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band Tour Dates:
07/01 – Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
07/02 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
07/03 – Lititz, PA @ Mickey’s Black Box
07/05 – Wayne, PA @ 118 North
07/06 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
07/09 – Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater ^
07/10 – Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center ^
07/11 – Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium ^
07/12 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
07/15 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark ^
07/16 – Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery ^
07/17 – Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater ^
07/18 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall ^
07/20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
07/21 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
07/22 – Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord
07/24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^
07/25 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^
^ = supporting Blackberry Smoke
