David Ellefson Shares Honest Opinion on Jason Newsted’s Work on Metallica’s ’Black Album’

The former bassist of Megadeth and current member of Dieth and Kings of Thrash, David Ellefson, reflected on the time when his 4-string colleague Jason Newsted joined Metallica. While appearing on “Drinks With Johnny,” the podcast of Avenged Sevenfold bassist Johnny Christ, Ellefson looked back on how Jason approached his new band and the challenges that came with it.

Jason had big shoes to fill — the tragic loss of Cliff Burton could never be made up for but he managed to fit into Metallica’s music and even contribute creatively in his own way. Sure, his bass wasn’t that audible (more like not audible at all) on “…And Justice for All,” but his role on Metallica’s self-titled record from 1991, also known as “The Black Album,” was way more noticeable.  

Although Megadeth and Metallica were fierce competitors at the time, Ellefson sympathized with Jason. Ellefson and Johnny touched upon that when talking about how incredibly challenging it can be to hold a seemingly simple rhythm. Recalling Jason and “The Black Album,” David said (transcribed by Killer Guitar Rigs):

” I remember they were doing ‘The Black Album.’ ‘Hey, man, just give me some eighth notes, and can you pound them out.'”

“So he’s new to the band,” Ellefson recalled. “I knew Jason because when he was in Flotsam and Jetsam, they’d always open for us when we came through Phoenix. Then he got the gig — obviously, Metallica.”

Apart from being in this band that’s growing and becoming more and more popular worldwide, Jason was in a spot where he replaced one of the most unique bass players in modern music. And his playing style was different to Cliff’s.

“But the pressure is on now,” Ellefson added, “because it’s one thing to be a fan of somebody. It’s a whole other to jump into the hot seat — now you are the guy. And obviously, Jason was a different player from Cliff — fingers to plectrum and stuff.”

Speaking more about the album, Ellefson also reflected on how producer Bob Rock helped Metallica reach for greatness on it. Although not the kind of producer they’re used to working with, Metallica eventually achieved massive commercial success with their self-titled album, eventually making it one of the best-selling releases of all time. David continued:

“Thank God they got Bob to do ‘The Black Album’ for all the reasons. Because the songs are great, the production is amazing, and everything about it is the gold standard, right?”

On top of that, Ellefson explained how crucial Bob Rock was in adding those much-needed bottom ends in the fuller picture. Of course, it wasn’t Rock who did the mixing, but he was in charge of getting the best possible sound out of Metallica, making the process difficult but fruitful from start to finish.

“But also from a bass point of view,” David said, “he put not just bass guitar, but he put low end in their mix in a way that band never had before — really nice and warm — and we know what that’s like making records.”

Apart from critical acclaim, the record eventually got a multiplatinum status. As of 2021, it was determined that the album sold well over 17 million units worldwide. Around the same time when this record was released, Megadeth were also enjoying their success with 1990’s “Rust in Peace” and 1992’s “Countdown to Extinction.” Although certainly not achieving the same numbers as Metallica, they were still making some of their finest music ever.

In 2021, Ellefson got fired from Megadeth over a leaked intimate video scandal. Although this wasn’t the first time that he and Dave Mustaine had a falling out, Ellefson’s departure from the band seems to be for good.

“I got one call: ‘You’re fired,'” recalled Ellefson with a laugh in an interview from earlier this year. “And I said, ‘What the f*ck, man?’ I said, ‘Some sh***y f*cking people just dropped a bomb on my house. And that’s it? It’s not even true. It’s f*cking bulls***. And this is how you treat me?'”

“It was non-negotiable. I mean, I asked. I said, ‘I’m gonna take care of it. Let me just deal with it. And it will f*cking be done. We’ll be ready to go on the road in two months, and everything will be fine.’ And it was. Because it was just false allegations and bulls***.”

“But [Dave] didn’t wanna know about it. I think he was getting pressure from some other people around him. And it’s too bad it went that way. Because it was really nothing. I took care of it.”

“And then once the word came out that I was fired, then it turned into this big f*cking thing, which, quite honestly, was very damaging and very hurtful and not fair. I’m glad I don’t have that f*cking amends on my shoulder because that was f*cked up.”

Photos: Carter Sterling (David Ellefson), Achim Raschka (13-06-09 RaR Newsted 13)