While chatting with Dean Delray on the “Let There Be Talk” podcast, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted revealed that he underwent a throat cancer operation in May 2025. Despite the health scare, the musician says he is now “free and clear.”
Newsted said the following about declining an invitation for Delray’s Bon Scott (AC/DC) tribute show:
“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 [Chophouse Band] 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.”
You can catch Jason Newsted And The Chophouse Band on the following dates:
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
With Blackberry Smoke:
07/09 Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
07/10 Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
07/11 Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium
07/12 Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
07/15 Lewiston, NY @ Artpark
07/16 Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery
07/17 Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater
07/18 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Jason Newsted And The Chophouse Band:
07/20 Grand Rapids, MI # Pyramid Scheme
07/21 Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
07/22 Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
With Blackberry Smoke:
07/24 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
07/25 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
[via Blabbermouth]
Search for tours coming to your city here.