Jason Newsted (formerly of Metallica) shares his health struggles

Jason Newsted, a former bassist and vocalist for Metallica, discussed his fight with throat cancer in public last year, as per theprp. Newsted discussed the issue with a comedian, musician, etc. Dean Delray on the latter’s podcast, “Let There Be Talk”. After Delray revealed that Newsted wasn’t available to perform at Delray’s all-star tribute event to the late AC/DC singer Bon Scott in February, Newsted opened up about the experience.

If I could have been there, I would’ve been there. 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.

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.”

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.

Upcoming shows:

• July 1 – Northampton, MA  @ Iron Horse Music Hall
• July 2 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
• July 3 – Lititz, PA @ Mickey’s Black Box
• July 5 – Wayne, PA @ 118 North
• July 6 – Alexandria, VA  @ The Birchmere
• July 9 – Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater*
• July 10 – Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center*
• July 11 – Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium*
• July 12 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall*
• July 15 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark*
• July 16 – Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery
• July 17 – Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater*
• July 18 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall*
• July 20 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
• July 21 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
• July 22 – Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord
• July 24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium*
• July 25 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium*

*Supporting Blackberry Smoke