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Jason Newsted Picks Best Metallica Thrashers to Transform into Country Songs
Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has picked which of his old band's thrash tracks he would rework in a country or roots style, as he tours America with his Chophouse Band supporting Southern rock act Blackberry Smoke. Speaking on Rolling Stone's Nashville Now podcast, he ruled out the obvious choice of "Mama Said" from 1996's Load and instead suggested faster, heavier songs from before he joined Metallica, arguing they would work well stripped of distortion while keeping their intensity.
Newsted named "Battery" from 1986's Master of Puppets and "Fight Fire with Fire" from 1984's Ride the Lightning as his picks, saying he'd want something "super fast and challenging" reimagined without the heavy amplification. Blackberry Smoke's Charlie Starr, also featured on the podcast, chose "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," envisioning a "spooky, Johnny Cash" treatment. Newsted, who left Metallica in 2001, also said he'd be interested in attending the band's upcoming Sphere residency in Las Vegas. His tour with Blackberry Smoke continues through the end of July, including two shows at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on 24 and 25 July.
In short
- Jason Newsted picks Metallica songs for a country makeover on a podcast.
- Top choices: "Battery" and "Fight Fire with Fire."
- He's touring with Blackberry Smoke and open to Metallica's Sphere shows.
Explained simply
Jason Newsted is a bassist who spent 14 years in Metallica, one of the world's most famous heavy metal bands, before leaving in 2001. Metallica emerged from the fast, aggressive metal scene of the 1980s and remained hugely influential for decades. Newsted's time with the band makes his perspectives on their music catalogue significant.
Newsted is currently touring America with his own band, supporting the Southern rock group Blackberry Smoke. While appearing on a podcast focused on country music, he discussed which Metallica songs might be reimagined in a country or roots style, keeping their speed and intensity but removing the heavy distortion that defines heavy metal. He suggested faster, heavier tracks from early in the band's history would work best for this kind of transformation.
The idea of reworking aggressive metal songs into country music represents an unusual crossing between two very different musical genres. Such conversations reflect how artists often explore fresh interpretations of their past work and how musical ideas can travel across different styles. The discussion also highlights Newsted's continued engagement with Metallica's legacy more than two decades after his departure.