http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//CRYING2.gif I was speechless when I 1st heard this. I saw it at the Metal Edge Posting board, but since a vast amount of them are anti-metallica, I didn't believe, so I went to the metallica site and it was there, a friend who was on-line e-mailed the article from MTV.

I know a lot are pissed at Metallica about the Napster issue, but damn, Metallica is and forever will be one of my favorite bands and I'm really sad right now.

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Glitter Gurl
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As written at metallica.com:

Jan 17 - 2001


STATEMENT FROM THE MEMBERS OF METALLICA

Metallica regrets to announce that after 14 years as Metallica's bass player, Jason Newsted has chosen to leave the band.

Jason Newsted: "Due to private and personal reasons, and the physical damage that I have done to myself over the years while playing the music that I love, I must step away from the band. This is the most difficult decision of my life, made in the best interest of my family, myself, and the continued growth of Metallica. I extend my love, thanks, and best wishes to my brothers: James, Lars, and Kirk and the rest of the Metallica family, friends, and fans whom have made these years so unforgettable."

Newsted joined Metallica from Flotsam And Jetsam in the fall of 1986 after the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton. He participated in the recording of 6 Metallica albums (…And Justice for All, Metallica, Load, Re-Load, Garage Inc., and S&M) which have sold over 55 million copies worldwide to date. In addition, he played on numerous worldwide tours to millions of fans representing over 1000 gigs in all. While with Metallica, the band won countless awards including 5 Grammy Awards and 2 MTV Video Music Awards.

James Hetfield: "Playing with someone who has such unbridled passion for music will forever be a huge inspiration. On stage every night, he was a driving force to us all, fans and band alike.

His connection will never be broken."

Lars Ulrich: "We part ways with Jason with more love, more mutual respect, and more understanding of each other than at any other point in the past. James, Kirk and I look forward to embracing the next chapter of Metallica with both a huge amount of appreciation for the last 14 years with Jason and the excitement of rising to the challenges that lay ahead to make Metallica shine brighter than ever."

In the spring, Metallica will begin writing and recording a new studio album with release sometime in late 2001 or early 2002.

Kirk Hammett: "Jason is our brother. He will be missed."



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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

I just got this news and came running here to share my pain. I know over the past few years a lot of people have turned their backs on Metallica and their new sound and/or look. Even I have been becoming increasingly distressed over everything to do with them. But, now I am sad. Jason was the one that REMAINED true. He was the one that, over time, I have grown to love. He took on a hard job trying to fill the shoes of Cliff Burton, and he took the job and ran with it. He took a lot of slack from fans as well as the band when he joined, but he has proven himself over the past 14 years to be one of the best. I have had nothing but respect for this man.

I will truly miss him. No matter what Metallica does now, it is all over. Only Jason was keeping it real. Anyone who comes in now will just be a puppet to the Hetfield/Ulrich partnership.

It is over.

~Rain

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"The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall." ~Bob Marley
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Maybe Jason has stayed true to himself and the fans... but Metallica has not... Whether or not Jason is in the band, Metallica is over... at least in their "True" fans eyes...
Hopefully Jason will not give up his music.. he has always been a great musician and really seemed to enjoy himself on stage.
He did fill Cliff's shoes well, and he helped Metallica rise to the top, but when they cashed in and changed their musical style so drastically... they lost most of their loyal fans.. and certainly after the Napster fight... Jason is probably getting out at the right time.

What can one say but I am shocked! I do not know how to feel as Metallica have been through so many changes over the years, but this is just the sadest news. http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//00sad.gif
It will be hard to replace the talents of Jason but I know the band will live in my eyes forever.
http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//jason.gif

<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Glitter on 01-19-2001 at 03:45 AM</font>

Jason probobly just got sick of Lars' nonsense. He's also more than likely sick of being an MTV darling. I saw Metallica before they were even signed opening up for Raven at a dump of a club in Yonkers, NY called The Rising Sun. They were everything I wanted in a metal band. That is...until "Load" came out.

Lars' quote, "We never really considered ourselves a metal band." was a slap in the face for all the Metallifaithful. Now....James has a hairstylist? Lars will appear on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" with one of the Dixie Chicks & one of the Backstreet Boys? Are you kidding me or what?

Above and beyond all...for those who lived through it in the 80s, Metal wasn't just a form of music. If I may borrow from Jeff Spicoli, "It's a way of life." If you were a headbanger everyone knew it. You looked like a headbanger, you talked like a headbanger, you dressed like a headbanger. Metallica turned their backs, and subsequently gave a HUGE middle finger to all headbangers.

Please don't try to tell me that they did it to further their career. At the time of their change, they were the biggest band in the world. The Black Album was multiple platinum. If they had continued on their course, they would have ended up being the Led Zeppelin of their generation. Instead, Lars got starry eyed at MTV paying all that attention to him, and they turned into another forgettable band. They once pushed the limits of metal, playing harder and faster than anyone imagined, yet maintaining a sense of melody and musicianship that few metal bands could. Now they play it nice and safe. Gone are the buzzsaw guitars. Gone are James' snarling vocals. Gone are the thundering double bass fills. Gone is the rumbling bass. They fit very nicely now with all the other "safe" bands that don't try anything new. Think about this....after the change, they were the ONLY band from the 80s in regular rotation on K-Rock in NY. K-Rock, "NY's ALTERNATIVE station.

Jason hopefully will put Flotsam & Jetsom back together. Once, they couldn't shine Metallica's shoes. Now, they could probobly blow Metallica OUT of their shoes.

You are right, Raine. Jason was the one hope the band had of going back to their ways. Now that he's gone....goodnight Irene. They'll probobly find some alternative "cookie cutter" bassist, and continue to make mediocre albums while their fan base continues to shrink. Cliff must be rolling in his grave now....

Sorry for the rant, but it hurts deeply to have watched one of my favorite bands deteriorate from musical cancer. Thank the Goddess that Iron Maiden has returned to form!

Peace,
Pagan

http://www.pagan.80sxchange.com

I could not have said it better, Pagan!

Tina http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//spin.gif

Pagan, if it weren't you posting that message, it would have been me! Metallica gave metal a swift kick at a time when it really wasn't needed but it did just as well. A lot of quality bands who performed all types of music suddenly appeared. For that, Metallica will always be appreciated, they raised the bar. But, what the hack happened to their "I don't give a crap" attitude? That was their appeal, at least in part. This is just another reason to not listen to future material released by them!

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Red

I wish I had my "Writers" section live.. I'd love to have what Pagan wrote up there stand out more than it does now.. That was written superbly! Thanks for your thoughts...

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

**Stands and applauds Pagan**

You know, I TRIED to continue to love Metallica. Sal and Not Man can attest to that! I really didn't mind the newer stuff. But, overtime, it began to grate on my nerves. I HATED seeing Lars on The List. I HATED seeing Lars in TV guide with BSB and the like. SO WRONG. They have become money hungry POP stars. Now, with Jason gone, it really is all over. Isn't it?

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"The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall." ~Bob Marley
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<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Raine on 01-20-2001 at 01:19 AM</font>

Wow....I thought I was going to get lambasted for my comments! WHEW!

Sal...when you do get the writer's thing going let me know. I was going to answer your email about it but didn't get the chance. I'd love to write.

Dag nab! I didn't have my user name and password put in first lol. Luckily I don't tend to write epiphanies.
Pagan I'm no metalhead but I think Metallica sucks now and I think they made a terrible mistake by choosing to play for fame instead of the people who deserve more huge bands in their scene.
Of course I like girlie pop and pure new romantic disco instrument bands so I'm screwed. :-\
Do you like Megadeth, even though they sorta left their scene.
Also since I never get to ask hangbangers in person (for many interesting reasons), how do you feel about Pantera? I like pantera http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//GOOFY.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ReagansRenegade:
Do you like Megadeth, even though they sorta left their scene.
Also since I never get to ask hangbangers in person (for many interesting reasons), how do you feel about Pantera? I like pantera</font>

I has gotten a little annoyed at Megadeth also, but when I saw them at Jones Beach this past summer with Motley Crue, they kicked ass. Also, their next album is supposed to be a return to old form.

Pantera is the opposite of Metallica. They started off as a makeup wearing hair band, then switched to being alot heavier. I like them somewhat, but since I'm a fan of great vocals, the "vomiting" style of singing that Phil Anselmo employs isn't to my tastes. It's a shame, because he's an excellent vocalist when he wants to be. The vocals on their "Cowboys From Hell" album were really done well.

I love Megadeth... Pagan is right about them kinda changing their sound a little as well.. and I, too, have seen them live several times, and they were great each time I saw them... I didn't like the last album.. hopefully they ARE going back to the old format. I also like Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" album best... and really don't care for anything else they have done as well.. (and I have seen them live a couple of times.. and I was disappointed both times, Phil is not a good live singer, in my opinion)

Okay, Pagan. I will let you know about the writing when I get it started.. As for Megadeth. I really believe and HOPE they go back to their old style. I don't think they want to make the same mistake that Metallica did.

And I BET Dave Mustaine would be so happy to be well-loved AFTER Metallica is GONE! 'Know what I mean?

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

I was never a big Megadeth fan. I always like Metallica and Anthrax much better. I did see Megadeth once, and to be honest, I was not impressed. Maybe had I been a fan, I would have enjoyed it more. But as it stood, I was not a Megadeth fan and I just didn't seem to catch on to the vibe that was going on. You know what I mean?

As for Pantara, I LOVE Pantara. I don't mind the vocals, although I really don't like other bands that employ the same style. Not sure why....

And just out of curiosity, Tinajo, what did you mean by "TRUE" fans in your earlier post? Because I think that just because someone comes in late and likes the new stuff, that does not make them any LESS of a fan than, say, myself in 1986. I could very well be reading way more into what you said than I should, but that just seemed like a kinda unfair statement.


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<FONT COLOR="#6699cc" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Raine on 01-22-2001 at 11:24 PM</font>

Well I love vomity vocals myself, lol! I have to say I liked a lot of stuff on the Risk album, mostly because I don't have any music like it. Just for variety, but I hope Megadeth takes the opportunity to fill the vaccuum.
I know Pantera was a glam band before Anselmo, and I'm not sure I think they are completely what they present to be, but no other band really has their sound and thats probably why they are even as famous as they are.
Your right Phil can sing when he wants to! I heard the track they did for the Heavy Metal 2000 movie and it was a lot more melodic then anything on Reinventing the Steel.
Raine I am glad I'm not the only fan here! Of course if Pantera ever quit I wouldn't be as devistated as Metallica fans are.

Rain, my idea of a "true Metallifan" is someone who has followed their career and loved their style from the beginning. (Let's face it, alot of the newer fans know nothing about the old Metallica that made them great). I don't think the newer fans view Metallica as "sellouts" the way us "seasoned" fans do.

A "True" Metallica fan knows the albums that came before the self-entitled black album. Most younger fans (atleast in MY case and probably Tina's) don't know about their earlier material. You can't be a "true" fan without knowing Kill 'em All, Ride the Lightening, Master of Puppets and ...And Justice For All. Atleast that's what I feel... Heck, you should atleast be familiar with one of them..

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The loneliness just fades away
thoughts of you just memories
no cryin now for what we're missin
time won't forget what you meant to me

Thank You, Sal... That was what I was trying to point to... http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//smile.gif