{"id":511728,"date":"2026-06-26T07:38:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T07:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/511728\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T07:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T07:38:14","slug":"jason-newsted-understands-the-wtf-reaction-to-metallicas-load-reload-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/511728\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason Newsted Understands the “WTF” Reaction to Metallica’s Load\/ReLoad Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

Metallica<\/a> are set to release a super deluxe box set of their 1997 album ReLoad on Friday, June 26th. Heavy Consequence recently caught up with the band\u2019s former bassist Jason Newsted<\/a>, who discussed the box set and the fan reaction to Metallica\u2019s Load\/ReLoad era.<\/p>\n

Newsted is about to hit the road for his first proper tour<\/a> with his group Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band, who play a mix of cover songs and originals. The outing (consisting of headlining shows and support dates on Blackberry Smoke\u2019s tour) runs from a July 1st gig in Northampton, Massachusetts, and wraps up with a two-night stand at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on July 24th and 25th (pick up tickets via Ticketmaster<\/a> or StubHub<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Get Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band Tickets Here<\/a><\/p>\n

As for the ReLoad box set<\/a>, Newsted had the honor of doing the official unboxing of the release, and as he told us, it stirred up a bunch of memories.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes a few years to put that kind of a thing together,\u201d Newsted tells us in the video interview. \u201cI purposefully do not look at anything. I know it\u2019s happening. I see the stuff go by and the progress of things, but I don\u2019t look at it. Then when I get to open it, it\u2019s\u2026 just as a fan. I\u2019ve been out [of Metallica for] 25 years. I was in for almost 15, been out for that much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

He adds, \u201cI hadn\u2019t listened to that record for a long time\u2026 I think it\u2019s 27 or how many ever years that I had heard it in its entirety\u2026\u00a0I just put that thing on, and it transported me\u2026 The portals that it opened as each song came\u2026 these certain spots that I remember working on\u2026 they start coming back like muscle memory. Then I picture where we were when we were doing it, picture recording the thing, picturing playing it for the people\u2026. My point is, I was able to get that far away from it by doing all the other things that I do, and then finding its reward when I go back and appreciate it in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Metallica released the albums Load and ReLoad in the \u201990s, the reaction by fans was divisive to say the least, with the band being labeled \u201cAlternica\u201d for their new short haircuts and emo-looking vibe, a sharp contrast to their long-hair days of the \u201980s.<\/p>\n

Looking back, Newsted understands the initial reaction by longtime Metallica fans at the time, saying he would probably have responded similarly if his favorite band had done the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have a following, an army that\u2019s so loyal, like, \u2018That\u2019s my fucking band,\u2019 wearing a Metallica shirt three days a week\u2026 and then all of a sudden it\u2019s not that anymore, and [the band] looks like whichever guy on MTV\u2026 with the blond tips. Yeah, people are going, \u2018What the fuck?\u2019 I understand it. Absolutely, man. If Black Sabbath would\u2019ve cut their hair or something, dude, I would [have said] \u2018What the fuck?\u2019 That would\u2019ve been tough. I do understand that part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He goes on to say, \u201cWhat I like is the timelessness and the strength of those songs. As people matured and went into their deep cut listening, they realized the quality and caliber of the music is still the same, is still retained, maybe even more refined no matter how long your hair is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newsted concludes, \u201cAfter all the work that we did together, after all the songwriting those guys did, after all the shows that we did together to bring that to the people like that, it\u2019s going to be a certain caliber. There\u2019s no way we would put it out to the people if it wasn\u2019t, right? It just sometimes takes folks a minute to understand where we\u2019re at. I don\u2019t like change either\u2026 So maybe it takes a while for us to accept the change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catch Jason Newsted on the road with the Chophouse Band, and pick up Metallica\u2019s super-deluxe box set of ReLoad via Amazon<\/a> or the Metallica online store<\/a>. Watch our video interview with Newsted above.<\/p>\n

Jason Newsted & The Chophouse Band Tour Dates:
07\/01 \u2013 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse Music Hall
07\/02 \u2013 Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
07\/03 \u2013 Lititz, PA @ Mickey\u2019s Black Box
07\/05 \u2013 Wayne, PA @ 118 North
07\/06 \u2013 Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
07\/09 \u2013 Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater ^
07\/10 \u2013 Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center ^
07\/11 \u2013 Charlotte, NC @ Ovens Auditorium ^
07\/12 \u2013 Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
07\/15 \u2013 Lewiston, NY @ Artpark ^
07\/16 \u2013 Utica, NY @ Saranac Brewery ^
07\/17 \u2013 Farmington, PA @ Timber Rock Amphitheater ^
07\/18 \u2013 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall ^
07\/20 \u2013 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme
07\/21 \u2013 Newport, KY @ Southgate House Revival
07\/22 \u2013 Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord
07\/24 \u2013 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^
07\/25 \u2013 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium ^<\/p>\n

^ = supporting Blackberry Smoke<\/p>\n

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