Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted revealed the true reason for his departure from the band in 2001 — it wasn’t due to a conflict of interest with his other band at the time, Echobrain.

“Sometimes you have to make harsh decisions that no one understands,” Newsted stated on a new episode of Dean Delray’s Let There Be Talk podcast. “They’re not in my shoes, man. What the heck? I’m not in yours. You’re not in mine. There’s no way you can know.”

Newsted previously indicated that his exit from Metallica was expedited by his involvement with the alt-metal band Echobrain. Members of Metallica were discouraged from engaging in side projects, and frontman James Hetfield allegedly became defensive when Metallica’s management showed interest in Echobrain. However, that’s not the complete story.

READ MORE: Metallica Albums Ranked Worst to Best

“One thing I want to clarify is the Echobrain situation,” Newsted explained. “That was another project that I took to a certain level. I had 40 projects in the Chophouse at various stages of recording, composition, and rehearsal. This one just seemed more promising, and I took it further. But it’s not the reason I left Metallica.”

So, Why Did Jason Newsted Leave Metallica?

“The reason I left Metallica is because I was a horrible addict,” Newsted admitted. “I was really struggling, and if I didn’t get some kind of help, I was going to die. So I just said, ‘You guys, can I have a minute? Please give me a minute.’ And they said, ‘No.’”

Newsted’s departure certainly wasn’t due to a lack of passion for the band. “I said, ‘I would rather live than be in your band. I love being in your band. It’s pretty obvious. I wear your shirt every single night,'” he said. “‘I wear our shirt every night. I represent us for all the fans every single night. Don’t tell me I’m not committed or loyal. Don’t tell me that. I’m always the first one in and the last one out. It’s f—ing history. It’s real.’ You can’t give me that minute to get my head straight again? Then I have to go. Not because I don’t love you or because I’m not committed to this band, but it wasn’t because of Echobrain.”

Jason Newsted’s Summer Tour Plans and ‘Free and Clear’ Health Diagnosis

Newsted is currently preparing for his first-ever U.S. headlining tour with the Chophouse Band, scheduled for July and including several dates opening for Blackberry Smoke. He also mentioned on Let There Be Talk that he recently received a “free and clear” health update after undergoing treatment for throat cancer last year.

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