Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, multiple Grammy winner, and Jupiter resident Jason Newsted— Metallica’s former bassist—is bringing his focus back to original music after years in the art world. He gave two concerts at the Lighthouse Art Center with The Chophouse Band showcasing some of the new music he has been working on.
“This is the first new music I have been working on in seven years,” he says, sitting in his home rehearsal studio surrounded by guitars and amps that also houses his art studio. “I performed some of the new songs at these concerts and released a record in April 2021.”
Newsted has been playing some shows with his revolving members of The Chophouse Band for a few years but playing all covers of such roots giants as Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, and Bob Seger.
Jason Newsted’s life has been steeped in music from his early years growing up in the 60s in Battle Creek but grew up in Niles, Michigan where he listened to records his older brother had, including Jimi Hendrix, Earth Wind and Fire, and the Jackson 5. Surprisingly funky choices and Newsted says “The dominance of the bass attracted me to that music though I wasn’t aware of that then.”
His parents listened to mellower folk music like the Mamas and the Papas and the 1910 Fruitgum Company. As the decade progressed into the 70s he listened to the Ohio Players, Jeff Beck, and the band that really put him over the edge – KISS.
How it all began
By 1981 he was in Arizona with $300 in his pocket, some records, a bass, and his amp. They rented a house and he took jobs in a sandwich shop and as a dishwasher. He did that for a year, then finally put a band together out of Scottsdale called Flotsam & Jetsam.
The underage young band couldn’t even hang out in the clubs they played but won some Battle of the Band contests in 1985 that included recording studio time.
First band
His band was doing well and were Kings of the City of Phoenix but Newsted felt he had to try as Phoenix wasn’t very big at the time.
They banged out six songs in one day to make a demo. From there Newsted put together a press kit and mailed it out to as many people as I could. They got a review – from a demo! – in KERRANG! magazine – that was a big deal. Then they got a small record deal and had six days to record. One of those people that he sent that record to was Michael Alago in New York at Elektra Records who had signed Metallica in 84.
Metallica
For the next 15 years, Newsted hit the big time in a perfect storm of literally dominating a new genre of music. He participated in the recording of 6 Metallica albums (including …And Justice for All, Metallica, Load, ReLoad, and Garage Inc.) which have sold over 66 million copies worldwide to date. In addition, he played on numerous worldwide tours to millions of fans representing over 1,000 gigs in all. The band went on to win MTV Awards, American Music Awards, 8 Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and dozens more.
A major snafu happened when they were nominated for the debut Grammy for Best Hard Rock Metal Performance in 1989 and the winner was…Jethro Tull.
A firestorm erupted over that one and Jason says they had pre-printed banners saying they had won but then they stamped a giant LOSER instead – which of course became a huge collector’s item.
Why leave it all?
After leaving Metallica due to a combination of health and creative issues, Jason took control of his new freedom and began a remarkable painting career as well as forming band projects with music “I could play forever,” he says.
The Chophouse Band name was given by the Martin brothers from Castro Valley, CA, Jim Martin, the flying V guitar player from Faith No More, who was Cliff Burton’s best friend, and Lawrence Martin, his older brother. They originally dubbed the recording studio in Walnut Creek, California, “The Big Rigor Chophouse” and then after a couple of years, it was whittled down to be The Chophouse Studio, Record Co. & Band.
The current group (Robert John Tucker on drums, Tom Coughter on bass, Carl Schmid on violin and fiddle, Amir Tal on Lead guitar and backing vocal) has been playing 6 shows a year with them. Guest performers include Micah Scott on banjo and Matt Farr, on keyboards.
“My songwriting process is similar to my painting process,” he says gesturing with his arms straight up to the ceiling. “I open up to the universe and tap into a channel. The more you do it the easier it gets. On a more practical level, I lay down a drum and bass track first. Certain instruments have the songs in them, then I pull out a melody and lyric. I work from the rhythm up probably due to my bass playing history. I’m always chasing that zone. It’s the same with my art, I pick up certain materials – brush, paint stick, marker – and just start hitting the canvas with it.”
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