Niclas from Metal Shrine recently interviewed former METALLICA / VOIVOD bassist Jason Newsted, who is releasing a four-song EP under the moniker NEWSTED, entitled Metal, on January 8th, exclusively via iTunes. An excerpt form their chat follows:

Let's just say that (current Metallica bassist) Rob Trujillo breaks his leg and they're about to go on tour and they call you. Would you do it?

Jason Newsted: Aahhh, it kinda depends on the circumstances. God, I haven´t been asked that before. (sighs deeply) If they were cool and they were bros. Actually, here's the word, if they were brofessional about it and if they came as my brothers and they were professional with the meeting and they called the meeting and they're sitting there and looking me in the eye and the managers aren't around and we're doing this as we used to do every fucking thing, with just us and then the managers did what we told them to do… if it was like that again and the money was crazy, then I would consider it. I would consider it, but it would be only for that thing and it would to be absolutely delegated and it would have to be these 30 shows in these 45 days for this squillion dollars, then I would say most likely I would come and crush every fucker in my sight. But it has to be that.

I love those guys and I always will and I will defend them to the end of time. I don't dig it when people talk shit about them and I don't dig it when they put them down about certain music they didn't like that they did or whatever. Fuck those people! As soon as the people can put out a better album than Metallica, you let me know and I'll listen to it, but until that time, just back off! I don't come and tell you how shitty you're doing your accountant job or whatever, you know what I mean. I don't like that part, but I'll always have respect for those guys because they gave me my chance, ok. They gave me my chance and I'll never ever forget that. Now, we've had our differences over time but that shit is under the bridge a long time ago. The shit that has transpired in the last 10 years of the rumors stuff and 'Oh, Jason got treated so bad. Poor fucking Jason.' and everything, it's such shit! It's so wrong and it's not the truth and it really bothers me. I understand that it gets sensationalized and blah, blah, blah. What I try to say man is trainloads, trainloads of joy, accomplishments and wonderful experiences and one little, tiny fucking symbol full of shit. It was joyous and victorious and accomplishing things and setting the fucking standard, you know what I mean?"

To read the interview in its entirety, click here.