Metal Exiles' Jeffrey Easton has issued an interview conducted with Jason Newsted, frontman of new outfit NEWSTED and former member of METALLICA and VOIVOD. An excerpt follows...

Q: With the release of this EP you have the tour dates with the club shows, festivals ect so what else can we expect from the Newsted camp as you promote this release?

A: "We just signed on to another big tour that you will be hearing about very soon and there are offers all the way to next year. It is coming out of the woodwork, people are really responding to the EP, they are coming from everywhere trying to get us to be a part of things."

Q: How does it feel to come out of the shadows of other acts and have everybody want you to play with them?

A: "It feels great, it is empowering. I know I did a lot of hard work in Metallica, I spent a third of my life in that band working very hard and taking it to the people. I earned that part of things that way but for the people to still be there is my fortunate situation. The fact that when radio plays a Metallica song or a video is played from Metallica, it is usually with me playing bass and that has kept me alive with people waiting for me to come back."

Read the full interview at this location.

Newsted recently issued a brief update on the band's current stretch of US tour dates. Check it out below:

Newsted kicked off their US tour on April 19th in Walnut Creek, CA at Red House. Fan-filmed video, which includes footage of the band performing some Metallica classics, can be viewed below:

US tour dates are as follows:

April

24 - Fresno, CA - The Starline
26 - Sparks, NV - The Alley
27 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades

May

1 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
3 - Las Vegas, NV - Vinyl
4 - Mesa, AZ - KUPD Ufiesta / Quail Run Park
15 - Battle Creek, MI - Planet Rock
17 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot
18 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
21 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
22 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Downstairs
23 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony

Visit this location to get access to VIP ticketing packages for all US dates.

VIP packages include:

- one general admission concert ticket
- one meet and greet with Newsted
- one photo opportunity with Newsted
- get one personal item signed by Newsted
- one tour T-shirt
- one commemorative VIP Laminate
- first entry into the venue (where available)
- lines free merchandise shopping (where available)

Newsted have also confirmed more European tour dates, including a special appearance at The 100 Club in London, England on June 12th.

European dates include:

May

31 - Sonisphere Festival Madrid - Madrid, Spain

June

1 - Sonisphere Festival Barcelona - Barcelona, Spain
8 - Rock Im Park Clubstage - Nuremberg, Germany
9 - Rock Am Ring Clubstage - Nurburgring, Germany
10 - Trix - Antwerp, Belgium (with MASTODON)
12 - 100 Club - London, England
19 - Alcatraz - Milan, Italy (with SLAYER)
25 - Belgrade Arena - Belgrade, Serbia (with SLAYER)
27 - With Full Force Festival - Leipzig, Germany

Ticket links can be found at this location.

Newsted recently finished recordings for their debut full-length album. Check out the video update below:

As previously reported, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok has joined Newsted. Following the release of Newsted’s explosive EP, Metal – which debuted #1 on the iTunes metal chart, Mushok, guitarist Jessie Farnsworth and drummer Jesus Mendez Jr. are currently pounding away at Jason’s Chophouse Studios in Northern California, putting the final touches on a full-length album to be released early this summer.

“It was obvious from the word go that Mike is one of us,” says Jason. “Professional, focused, happy and grateful to be able to make our beautiful noise together!”
“I loved the old school vibe of the Metal EP, and when we got together to jam it really felt great,” adds Mushok. “Staind is taking a break for a while, so when Jason asked if I was interested in joining them to record an album and play on the upcoming tour, it was perfect timing. All I could say was, Hell yeah! I’m totally down for this.”

Check out a video introduction of Newsted's new line-up below: