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.”<\/p>\n
Newsted said the following about declining an invitation for Delray’s Bon Scott (AC\/DC) tribute show:<\/p>\n
“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 \u2014 you’re, probably, in the 24 people that I told.<\/p>\n
So, let’s see \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 mm. Sweet. Ooh.”<\/p>\n
You can catch Jason Newsted And The Chophouse Band on the following dates:<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
With Blackberry Smoke:<\/p>\n
07\/09 Wilmington, NC \u2013 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<\/p>\n
Jason Newsted And The Chophouse Band:<\/p>\n
07\/20 Grand Rapids, MI # Pyramid Scheme
07\/21 Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
07\/22 Knoxville, TN \u2013 Open Chord<\/p>\n
With Blackberry Smoke:<\/p>\n
07\/24 Nashville, TN \u2013 Ryman Auditorium
07\/25 Nashville, TN \u2013 Ryman Auditorium<\/p>\n