Jason Newsted

Jason Curtis Newsted (born March 4, 1963) is an American bassist and songwriter best known for his 15-year tenure with the heavy metal band Metallica. Beyond his work with one of the most successful acts in music history, Newsted has maintained a prolific career as a member of Voivod, Flotsam and Jetsam, and his own eponymous project, Newsted.

Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, Newsted began his musical journey in the burgeoning thrash metal scene of the early 1980s. He was a founding member and the primary songwriter for the Arizona-based band Flotsam and Jetsam. He performed on their 1986 debut album, Doomsday for the Deceiver, which earned critical acclaim and established him as a formidable presence in the underground metal community. However, his trajectory changed later that year following the tragic death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton.