Jason Newsted, former bassist for Metallica, revealed that he battled throat cancer and has since recovered.
During a recent appearance on the Let There Be Talk, Newsted spoke publicly for the first time about his diagnosis, when asked about his participation in the
Bon Scott and AC/DC, created by Dean Delray, last February [via Blabbermouth].
“If I could have been there, I would have been. So, I’m going to talk a little bit about it […] In a week, it will be a year. On May 8, 2025, I had a procedure to treat throat cancer. They removed a lot of stuff from here and then used lasers here to remove a lot more stuff. So, the cavity inside my head is different from how it was before, but we found out early. And I was discharged about three weeks ago. So, I beat the disease,” revealed the bassist.
He continued: “I promised myself I was going to rest, and this was the first time I’d ever done that in my life. Normally, I live on the edge. So, I promised myself I was going to relax and rest for as long as I needed. And there was no way, with my arrogance and presumption, that I was going to stop smoking weed, stop drinking, stop doing all those things. But the great spirit called my attention and said, ‘This isn’t good right now, man.’ And then it helped me stop. Now I’m clearer in the head than I’ve ever been in my entire adult life. There are blessings in everything. The lemonade I’m making this summer, man… mmm. Sweet. Wow.”
Jason Newsted took over on bass for Metallica in 1986, after the death of Cliff Burton. He participated in several of the group's landmark albums before leaving the band in 2001. Currently, the bassist plays with his project Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band and will be performing a series of 18 shows.
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