Former Metallica bassist/vocalist Jason Newsted has spoken publicly about his battle with throat cancer last year. Newsted addressed the matter in conversation with comedian/musician, etc. Dean Delray on the latter’s ‘Let There Be Talk‘ podcast [via Blabbermouth.net.] Newsted spoke candidly about the ordeal after Delray had mentioned that Newsted wasn’t available to play Delray‘s all-star tribute show to late AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott this past February.
Newsted, who is set to embark upon his first headlining tour with his The Chophouse Band this year, went on to say:
“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.”
Newsted‘s aforementioned live plans this summer include:
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 (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/10 Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/11 Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/12 Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
07/15 Lewiston, NY – Artpark (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/16 Utica, NY – Saranac Brewery (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/17 Farmington, PA – Timber Rock Amphitheater (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/18 Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
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 (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
07/25 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium (feat. Blackberry Smoke)
