Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Simple question, Newsted or Trujillo? Reasons why ??
- Thread starter schecson420
- Start date
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
- 4,054
- 17,209
- Disclosures
- MTD basses endorsed artist Bartolini pickups emerging artist TECAMP bass players gear endorsed
Ex-Metallica Member Jason Newsted Sells $4.95 Million Montana Ranch Retreat
Read More: Look Inside Jason Newsted's $4.95 Million Montana Ranch Retreat | Look Inside Jason Newsted's $4.95 Million Montana Ranch Retreat
Read More: Look Inside Jason Newsted's $4.95 Million Montana Ranch Retreat | Look Inside Jason Newsted's $4.95 Million Montana Ranch Retreat
HAHAHAHA! It was obvious that Puppets album was a Burton and Hetfield creation for the most part. Burton had absolute creative power and control. When he passed... the control passed on to Lars, obviously. And of course... drummers are not a talented as bass players.
And of course... drummers are not a talented as bass players.
I know it was intended as a humerus statement, but I don't agree, though that it is certainly very true when it comes to Lars in specific.
Personally I've always been lucky and had the pleasure to play in bands where the drummer probably was the most skilled musician of all of us.
The drummer I overall have spend most time playing together with in band contexts even was not alone an absolutely killer drummer, he was also quite proficient on guitar and pretty good on keys as well, he also knew how to sight read, and in one of the bands I was in with him on drums he was actually the main composer (we all contributed collectively to the compositions, but he was the main responsible for getting new ideas for riffs and the arrangement/form of our songs) and I guess sort of the unofficial band leader, further more he was also the one responsible for the production and mixing of our releases, something he actually did on several releases by some of the bands that was part of the small independent record label we were on.
Last edited:
I absolutely agree with you. "2X4" & "Poor Twisted Me" are prime examples of where you can actually FEEL the bass, along with hearing it! I'm originally a drummer, but "transitioned" to bass a little over 8 years ago & have found all kinds of cool playing in bassists that get clowned by "real" bassists (Nikki Sixx, Gene Simmons, etc...). There's some real snobs on this forum who clearly don't understand what makes rock n roll, "rock".
That's a bold statement....it's always been James and Lars's band.
It's easy to rose tint and romanticize what might have happened, but Cliff was only 26 when he died. A lot of things may have been different, but I'd still put money on the idea that they would've went down a more mainstream path, Cliff or no Cliff.[/QUOTE]
Newsted for me, and I will always be disappointed in the AJFA mix.
I’ve said it before, but I can’t think of any band more polarizing than Metallica. Pre-Cliff vs post-Cliff, Pre-Black Album vs post-Black Album, Jason vs. Rob, etc. It never ends.
Trujillo, but not for his work in Metallica. His work in ST and especially infectious grooves. I saw the grooves in 95 and a bunch of ST sets back in the day with Trujillo. He's a madman.
As for Metallica specially, Newsted. The amount of mental abuse that guy had to endure in Metallica why they took out there frustrations on him, because he wasn't Cliff are unbelievable. Mixing him out of And justice for all was just one of many examples.
Metallica doesn't let Trujillo shine, they have his leash held too tight imho.
As for Metallica specially, Newsted. The amount of mental abuse that guy had to endure in Metallica why they took out there frustrations on him, because he wasn't Cliff are unbelievable. Mixing him out of And justice for all was just one of many examples.
Metallica doesn't let Trujillo shine, they have his leash held too tight imho.
Like many have said, Trujillo is a better overall bass player, but he’s also a better guitar player than Kirk or James
You may be right. It's gotta be them or Van Halen. Throw either name out in most musician forums and you better strap in for a bumpy ride.
Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) reunites eponymous band for first show in 10 years
Newsted is back, baby! I remember years ago Jason talking about a shoulder injury that was preventing him from doing the heavy stuff on bass. Either he got better or he's going to stick to a lighter schedule, but either way I'm thrilled the man is back making metal music!
Newsted is back, baby! I remember years ago Jason talking about a shoulder injury that was preventing him from doing the heavy stuff on bass. Either he got better or he's going to stick to a lighter schedule, but either way I'm thrilled the man is back making metal music!
Necro thread!
Recently gotten back into Metallica and watched Cunning Stunts. Easily in my opinion the thickest the band has ever sounded. The peak blend of the aggression and energy of the black album era with the maturity of Load.
To me, there was an energy Jason brought to their live show that elevated them to legendary status. His ability to work the crowd was the best in the group and definitely better than Rob. And IMO since Jason left they have been riding that legendary live band status wave implemented by the lineup they had in the 90's.
His vocal prowess made the songs MUCH more powerful, and in a lot of cases more compelling than the album recordings. To the point where some songs such as Until It Sleeps is basically a dual lead vocal. They couldnt perform that specific song in the same way since Rob even if they tried. As a listener this point in time the band felt like it was developing into a solid creative unit.
Everything after Jason left sounds just like James + Lars plus the hired hands. Rob is a "better" bass guitar player, however Newsted was a badass and IMO a better bassist for Metallica. He was the frickin rockstar bassist of Metallica, his bass solo's were unique and he also just LOOKED better in the band. When watching Metallica videos of old he looked the part (along with everything else I listed above).
Ironically I also think that Newsted wouldve enjoyed their later albums a lot and wouldve made them sound bigger/backing vocals.
Recently gotten back into Metallica and watched Cunning Stunts. Easily in my opinion the thickest the band has ever sounded. The peak blend of the aggression and energy of the black album era with the maturity of Load.
To me, there was an energy Jason brought to their live show that elevated them to legendary status. His ability to work the crowd was the best in the group and definitely better than Rob. And IMO since Jason left they have been riding that legendary live band status wave implemented by the lineup they had in the 90's.
His vocal prowess made the songs MUCH more powerful, and in a lot of cases more compelling than the album recordings. To the point where some songs such as Until It Sleeps is basically a dual lead vocal. They couldnt perform that specific song in the same way since Rob even if they tried. As a listener this point in time the band felt like it was developing into a solid creative unit.
Everything after Jason left sounds just like James + Lars plus the hired hands. Rob is a "better" bass guitar player, however Newsted was a badass and IMO a better bassist for Metallica. He was the frickin rockstar bassist of Metallica, his bass solo's were unique and he also just LOOKED better in the band. When watching Metallica videos of old he looked the part (along with everything else I listed above).
Ironically I also think that Newsted wouldve enjoyed their later albums a lot and wouldve made them sound bigger/backing vocals.
The Black Album was formative for me in my music listening, but even with that said, Trujillo. His playing just speaks to me more.
Jason's Albums:
This is the only way I can listen to And Justice For All. The album is inaudible without Jason's bass! But Lars refuses to add the bass onto any reissues of AJFA because for him, the lack of bass represents a time in Metallica's history and he wants to respect that. AJFA is Jason's best work with Metallica. It would also be their last bona fide thrash album for almost 30 years.
The black album is overrated and overplayed. Jason's bass is not really emphasized on it either, but at least its audible. I also never got into Load and Reload because they're not metal albums. When I think of Metallica, metal (particularly thrash metal) comes to mind.
Rob's Albums :
Death Magnetic was just OK. Nothing that memorable besides it being a step backwards to their thrash metal roots. Hardwired to Self Destruct and 72 Seasons are solid albums, but Rob's bass should have been turned up a few decibels on both. "Hardwired" and "Lux AEterna" are their best songs since 2000 and Rob was the bassist on both. 72 Seasons and Scorched (by Overkill) came out on the same day in April 2023. Scorched was BY FAR the better and heavier album! Listen to DD Verni's bass playing and you'll understand!
Non-Album Factors:
Both of them did what was/is being asked of them by James, Lars, and Kirk. They both fit in the band well in their respective eras. They both have amazing showmanship and bass collections. Jason does take the edge in backup vocals, especially on live performances of "Creeping Death". Rob has a chill personality and sense of humor, so he takes the edge there. Neither played on the inaudible St. Anger.
Thankfully, James, Lars, and Kirk treat Rob with as much respect as they did Cliff Burton (RIP). I wish they treated Jason better when he was with Metallica. Jason's decision to quit the band was more than justified and the other 3 realized that during the events of the "Some Kind of Monster" documentary. So I feel sympathetic for Jason because that treatment is unacceptable under any circumstances.
Verdict:
My vote is no preference. Both are great bassists, but Cliff was the heart and soul of Metallica - a position that's been vacant since 1986. I'm too much of a Cliff fan to vote for either Rob or Jason. Rob and Jason never got to do a recorded bass solo like "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)", were never featured like Cliff was on "For Whom The Bell Tolls" or "Orion", and were never really the main feature of a song like Cliff was on "The Call of Ktulu".
Last edited:
Since no opinion is out of the question here per OP.
I like alot of Metallica's older stuff better, but with the exception of the solos done by Cliff, the bass is always so low in the mix and hard to pick out.
I don't know how you can accurately judge Jason's input because you could hardly pick out his playing on recordings. I'm not really a fan of the newer stuff so can't offer much on Robert.
I like alot of Metallica's older stuff better, but with the exception of the solos done by Cliff, the bass is always so low in the mix and hard to pick out.
I don't know how you can accurately judge Jason's input because you could hardly pick out his playing on recordings. I'm not really a fan of the newer stuff so can't offer much on Robert.
