Back in April, bassist Jason Newsted discussed his back surgeries and made it sound like he wouldn't be physically able to keep up with demanding music from bands like Metallica and Voivod anymore. Newsted commented that he's happy doing his acoustic shows as Jason Newsted and the Chophouse Band, and that "I know for a fact I cannot play the way that I would want to play in Voivod, Metallica — any of those bands. I don't have the physicality to do that anymore. I only do six shows a year, and I do them right."
Now in an interview with Knotfest, Newsted clarifies that his comments were taken out context and that if asked, he would absolutely play more aggressive music. Newsted added that he was specifically talking about going on tour and playing long shows when commenting on his physical abilities.
"This thing came out of a Florida interview — I think it was an art exhibit interview, actually — and there was something about my shoulder surgeries, and I say, 'I can't play Metallica songs anymore,' and all this stuff. And people started running with this thing. Are you sure that you listened to what I said? Are you sure that you heard the words that I said? Somebody just ran with this part and they made up this big goddamn thing.
"I want everybody to realize that whoever asked me to come and play bass, and if it was for real, then I would be there to play bass. And if it was Metallica that asked me to play for that many songs or that fast or that slow or whatever, then I would go and do it. There's not a thing where I can't do that. I was saying that I'm probably not gonna go on tour and do two and a half hours every night with a band anymore; that's not something I'm probably gonna do. It's not that I can't do it."
